Turkey expresses sympathies for the rising death toll in excess of 300 due to the floods in Pakistan
Pakistan Faces Devastating Floods Amidst Climate Change Challenges
As of late August 2025, Pakistan is grappling with unprecedented floods caused by intense monsoon rains that began in June. The floods have impacted all provinces, with the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) being the hardest hit, alongside significant damage in Karachi, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan regions.
Current Situation and Affected Areas
Nearly 1,000 people have died in the floods, including many children. Thousands have been injured, and over 4,700–5,000 homes have been partly or completely destroyed. More than 100 schools and extensive farmland have also been damaged or destroyed. Livestock losses exceed 5,000.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, an emergency has been declared in nine districts such as Buner, Shangla, and Mansehra. Between August 15-19 alone, around 368 deaths, 182 injuries, and damage to 1,300+ homes with nearly 100 schools destroyed were reported.
Urban flooding in Karachi overwhelmed infrastructure, causing at least six deaths, prolonged waterlogging, power cuts, and damage to homes. Drainage systems failed, leading to severe urban flooding.
In Punjab, rising river levels have displaced over 2,350 families and destroyed homes and crops, with floodwaters in the Indus exceeding 500,000 cusecs.
Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghizer district experienced severe flooding due to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) and landslides, submerging villages and farms, displacing hundreds, but no human deaths were reported.
Causes
The floods are attributed primarily to intensified monsoon rains influenced by climate change, with rainfall now about 25% more intense than before. The La Niña cycle and governance failures, including poor urban planning and inadequate infrastructure, have exacerbated the disaster.
International and National Response
The Pakistan Red Crescent and supporting agencies like the British Red Cross have deployed on-ground teams for search and rescue, first aid, damage assessment, and relief shelters. They have distributed cash support to affected families (over 14,000 people), provided mosquito nets, and are preparing water filtration units especially in KP where clean water is critically needed.
The National Disaster Management Authority holds daily meetings with humanitarian responders to coordinate relief efforts. United Nations agencies, including OCHA, are monitoring the situation and warn of continued heavy rains, encouraging preparedness and ongoing humanitarian aid.
Local and national authorities are managing evacuations and emergency declarations in the most-affected districts.
Outlook
Severe rain and flood conditions are forecast to continue into early September 2025, raising the risk of further casualties, displacement, and infrastructural damage. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, and the death toll may rise.
Summary Table of Key Data
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Death toll | Approximately 776–1,000+ deaths | | Injuries | Around 1,000+ injured | | Homes destroyed/damaged | Over 4,700–5,000 homes | | Livestock lost | Over 5,450 livestock | | Worst affected province | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (emergency declared in nine districts) | | Other heavily affected areas | Karachi, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan | | Causes | Heavy monsoon rains intensified by climate change, La Niña, poor planning | | Major response actors | Pakistan Red Crescent, British Red Cross, National Disaster Management Authority, UN agencies | | Ongoing risks | Continued heavy rains, flooding, landslides |
- Despite the ongoing turkish-American political discussions, the Turkish government has announced plans to send humanitarian aid to Pakistan, which is currently grappling with devastating floods.
- In the midst of general news about the flood disaster in Pakistan, a major breakthrough has been reported in Turkish crime and justice sector with the arrest of a high-profile suspect, attributed to improved counter-corruption measures.
- With Pakistan's summer weather escalating into a national emergency due to floods, the Turkish Meteorological Service has issuing weather alerts for potential accidents related to heavy rains in Turkey.
