What's happened
Since late June 2025, Pakistan has endured severe monsoon rains causing flash floods and landslides, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Over 800 people have died, hundreds of thousands displaced, and millions affected. Urban flooding in Karachi and other cities has disrupted daily life. Rescue operations continue amid warnings of ongoing heavy rains through mid-September.
What's behind the headline?
Climate Change and Infrastructure Failures Drive Crisis
The 2025 monsoon floods in Pakistan reveal a convergence of climatic and human factors. Climate change has intensified monsoon rainfall, increasing the frequency and severity of flash floods and cloudbursts, particularly in mountainous northern regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. Rising temperatures accelerate glacial melting, triggering glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), compounding flood risks.
Cross-Border Water Management Tensions
Flooding in Punjab has been exacerbated by sudden water releases from Indian dams on the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers. These releases, described by Pakistani officials as "water aggression," violate the spirit of the Indus Waters Treaty, suspended by India earlier in 2025. This adds a geopolitical dimension to the humanitarian crisis, complicating bilateral relations and flood management.
Human and Economic Toll
Over 800 deaths and widespread displacement highlight the human cost. Rural communities, especially in floodplains and mountainous areas, face destroyed homes, crops, and livestock. Urban centres like Karachi suffer from inadequate drainage and ageing infrastructure, leading to severe urban flooding and disruption.
Rescue and Relief Challenges
Rescue operations involve thousands of personnel and army assistance, but logistical challenges persist due to damaged roads and ongoing rains. Early warning systems have limitations, especially for sudden cloudbursts, leading to delayed evacuations and higher casualties.
Forecast and Implications
Heavy rains are expected to continue through mid-September, risking further flooding. Without significant improvements in infrastructure, early warning, and cross-border water cooperation, Pakistan will face recurring, increasingly severe flood disasters. The crisis underscores the urgent need for climate adaptation policies, sustainable land use, and diplomatic engagement with India on water management.
Impact on Readers
While the floods occur thousands of miles away, they exemplify the tangible consequences of climate change and infrastructure neglect. They serve as a warning for other vulnerable regions and highlight the importance of global climate action and disaster preparedness.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera provides comprehensive coverage of the scale and human impact of the floods, noting that "more than 1.5 million people have been affected" and describing the "biggest rescue operation in Punjab's history" with over 800 boats deployed. They emphasize the role of climate change and infrastructure weaknesses, quoting experts like Ayyoob Sharifi on intensifying monsoon rains.
The Independent highlights the immediate human suffering, with villagers like Mohammad Saleem describing the lack of government aid: "We are in great misery. Neither the government nor anyone else has come to inquire about us." It also details health crises from waterborne diseases and the destruction of livelihoods, underscoring the slow relief response.
The Guardian focuses on the northern provinces, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where flash floods and cloudbursts have killed hundreds. It includes vivid eyewitness accounts of floodwaters carrying boulders and the devastation in villages like Pir Baba. The Guardian also reports on government officials acknowledging the severity and calling for policy changes.
South China Morning Post and The New Arab provide additional context on the ongoing rescue efforts, infrastructure challenges in urban areas like Karachi, and the geopolitical tensions arising from India's dam water releases. They note that India alerted Pakistan through diplomatic channels rather than the Indus Waters Commission, which has been suspended.
Together, these sources paint a detailed picture of a multifaceted disaster driven by climate change, geopolitical tensions, and infrastructural vulnerabilities, with profound human and economic consequences.
How we got here
Pakistan's 2025 monsoon season has been unusually intense, with rainfall exceeding normal levels by up to 50%. Climate change has intensified monsoon patterns, causing heavier precipitation and glacial lake outburst floods. The flooding is worsened by deforestation, urbanisation, and inadequate infrastructure. Cross-border water releases from Indian dams on Punjab's rivers have also contributed to flooding.
Go deeper
- What caused the severe flooding in Pakistan in 2025?
- How is climate change affecting monsoon patterns in South Asia?
- What are the challenges in Pakistan's flood rescue and relief efforts?
Common question
-
Why Are Floods in Pakistan So Deadly and What’s Causing the Crisis?
Pakistan is currently experiencing devastating floods that have claimed over 360 lives and displaced thousands. These floods are driven by a combination of heavy monsoon rains, climate change, and regional vulnerabilities. Many wonder what’s behind this crisis, how climate change is impacting the region, and what is being done to help. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about the floods in Pakistan and the factors fueling this disaster.
-
What’s the bigger picture behind today’s top stories?
Today’s headlines reveal a series of interconnected issues shaping our world — from labor disputes and economic struggles to climate crises and regional conflicts. Understanding the broader context can help you see how these events reflect larger global trends and what might happen next. Below, we explore key questions to help make sense of these complex stories and their implications for the future.
-
Why Are Monsoon Floods and Heatwaves Getting Worse?
Recent headlines reveal an alarming rise in extreme weather events like devastating floods in Pakistan and record-breaking heatwaves across Europe and North America. These events are increasingly linked to climate change, raising questions about why they're worsening and what can be done. Below, we explore the key reasons behind these trends and what regions are most at risk, along with practical steps to prepare for future disasters.
-
How Are Countries Responding to Climate Emergencies?
As climate disasters like floods and heatwaves become more frequent and severe, many wonder how governments are tackling these urgent issues. Are current policies enough? What measures are being put in place to protect vulnerable communities? And what can individuals do to help? Below, we explore the latest responses from countries facing climate emergencies and answer common questions about their efforts to combat these crises.
-
How Is Extreme Weather Impacting Daily Life Today?
Recent headlines reveal the growing toll of climate-related disasters like floods and heatwaves. From devastating floods in Pakistan to record-breaking heat in Europe and North America, these events are reshaping daily routines, health, and communities worldwide. Curious about how these extreme weather events affect you and your surroundings? Below, we answer common questions about the ongoing climate crisis and its real-world impacts.
-
Why Are Monsoon Floods Happening in Pakistan Now?
Pakistan is currently experiencing severe monsoon floods that have caused widespread devastation. Heavy rains, cloudbursts, and climate change are major factors behind this crisis. Many wonder what’s driving these floods, how they impact daily life, and what can be done to prevent future disasters. Below, we answer the most common questions about this urgent situation.
-
What Are the Latest Updates on Major Climate Disasters in 2025?
Climate-related disasters are increasingly impacting communities worldwide in 2025. From devastating floods in Pakistan to worsening water shortages and wildfires in the US West, understanding these crises is crucial. Below, we answer common questions about these events, their causes, and how different regions are responding to this urgent situation.
-
Why Are Pakistan's Monsoon Floods So Deadly This Year?
Pakistan is experiencing one of its most severe monsoon seasons in recent history, with devastating floods affecting millions. Heavy rains, rising river levels, and infrastructural weaknesses have combined to create a crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands. But what makes this year's floods so deadly compared to previous years? Explore the factors behind the severity and what it means for Pakistan's future.
-
What Are the Biggest News Stories Today?
Stay updated with the top headlines shaping our world today. From natural disasters and political upheavals to international conflicts and entertainment updates, this page covers the most pressing stories. Curious about how these events are interconnected or where to find quick updates? Keep reading for clear, concise answers to your most common questions.
-
Why Are Pakistan's Monsoon Floods So Severe This Year?
Pakistan is experiencing some of the worst monsoon floods in recent history, causing widespread destruction and displacing hundreds of thousands. But what’s behind the severity of this year's floods? From climate change to geopolitical tensions, several factors are contributing to this crisis. Below, we explore the causes, impacts, and ongoing relief efforts to better understand this devastating natural disaster.
-
What Are the Key Global Crises Happening Right Now?
The world is facing multiple urgent crises, from devastating floods in Pakistan to tense conflicts in the Middle East and political upheavals in Europe. These events are shaping the global landscape and raising important questions about their causes and impacts. Below, we explore some of the most pressing issues and answer common questions to help you understand what's really going on.
-
How Severe Are the Monsoon Floods in Pakistan?
Pakistan is currently facing one of its worst monsoon seasons in recent history, with devastating floods affecting millions. The severity of these floods raises questions about their causes, impact on communities, and what the future holds. Below, we explore the extent of the disaster and answer common questions about this urgent crisis.
More on these topics
-
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country with a population exceeding 212.2 million. It is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometres.
-
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province, is one of the four provinces of Pakistan, located in the northwestern region of the country along the International border with Afghanistan.
-
Gilgit-Baltistan, formerly known as the Northern Areas, is a region administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory, and constitutes the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakis
-
Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range.
-
Buner District (Pashto: بونېر ولسوالۍ, Urdu: ضلع بونیر) is a district in the Malakand Division of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Before receiving the status of a district in 1991, it was a tehsil in Swat District.
Buner h
-
Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician and businessman who is currently serving as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, in office since 11 April 2022. He is the current president of the Pakistan Muslim League.
-
Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the largest city in Pakistan and seventh largest city proper in the world.
-
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
-
Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani politician who is the president of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and was the co-chairperson of Pakistan People's Party.
-
Bajaur District is a district in Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Until 2018, it was an agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, then during restructuring that merged FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it became a distric
-
Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to Earth's climate..