Flash floods hit northern Pakistan in August 2025 ^{CEFR B2}

In mid and late August 2025 northern Pakistan suffered a catastrophic series of flash floods that have killed over 800 people since late June and displaced thousands. Roads, homes and key infrastructure were damaged across several provinces, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. The situation worsened around August 14, with the most severe destruction between August 15 and 22; districts such as Buner and Shangla were among the worst hit and whole villages were cut off.

Multiple causes combined. Pre-monsoon and monsoon rains were reported 50 to 60 percent above normal, which swelled rivers. Releases of water from upstream reservoirs in India also raised downstream river levels. India says it warned Pakistan after opening some floodgates, while Pakistan says the information did not arrive in time. Rivers including the Sutlej and Ravi rose further and officials said the surge was moving towards Sindh, where preparations were under way.

Experts point to climate change and faster glacial melt as deeper causes. Pakistan has over 13,000 glaciers, the largest concentration outside the polar regions, and authorities warned that about 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan are melting rapidly. In the third week of August a glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan, blocking the Ghizer River; the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority reported on August 23 that water mixed with debris and large stones dammed the river for hours and formed two large lakes.

A joint UNDP and Pakistan Ministry of Climate Change project, "Scaling-up of GLOF risk reduction in Northern Pakistan (GLOF-II)", funded by the Green Climate Fund with USD 36.9 million, has installed weather stations and early warning systems in 24 valleys, fitted gauges and sensors, built or upgraded around 250 protective structures and trained local communities. Officials and experts say these measures help but are not sufficient. Humanitarian and resilience specialist Dr Shafqat Munir Ahmad advised raising community awareness, using pre-agreed funds for anticipatory action, improving communication among federal, provincial and local governments, providing local-language warnings, enforcing building codes, rebuilding to "build back better" standards and carrying out environmental assessments before new projects.