Flash floods hit northern Pakistan in August 2025CEFR B1
2 Sept 2025
Adapted from Rezwan, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ, Unsplash
The situation in mid and late August 2025 has caused widespread damage in northern Pakistan. The floods have killed over 800 people since late June and displaced thousands. The worst damage came between August 15 and 22, with Buner and Shangla among the hardest hit areas. Entire villages became inaccessible when roads were washed out.
Several factors combined to create the disaster. Unusually heavy rains, described as 50 to 60 percent above normal, swelled rivers. Officials said releases of water from upstream reservoirs in India raised river levels; India says it warned Pakistan after opening some floodgates, while Pakistan says the warning did not arrive in time. Rivers such as the Sutlej and Ravi rose and the surge moved towards Sindh, where preparations were under way.
Experts also blamed faster glacial melt. Pakistan has over 13,000 glaciers, and authorities warned that about 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan are melting rapidly. During the third week of August a glacier burst in Gilgit-Baltistan and at least 200 people were evacuated after the Ghizer River was blocked and two large lakes formed, the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority reported on August 23.
Difficult words
- flood — A large amount of water covering land.floods, floodgates
- devastate — To cause a lot of damage or destruction.devastating
- infrastructure — The basic systems and services needed for a country.
- climate — The typical weather in a certain area.
- disaster — A sudden event causing great damage or suffering.disasters
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can communities better prepare for future floods?
- What role does climate change play in natural disasters?
- Why is improving early warning systems important?
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