Pakistan Floods Leave Over 1,000 Dead and Displace Millions
Pakistan faces a devastating humanitarian crisis as over 1,000 people have lost their lives since late June due to heavy monsoon rains causing unprecedented flooding. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed that the death toll has reached 1,002, with casualties including 274 children, 163 women, and 565 men, reports 24brussels.
Floodwaters have wreaked havoc across the nation, displacing millions and inflicting damage on homes and infrastructure comparable to the catastrophic floods of 2022. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has reported the highest number of fatalities, totaling 504, followed by Punjab with 300, Sindh with 80, and others across Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Islamabad. More than 1,000 individuals have also sustained injuries.
The scale of destruction is alarming, with over 4,100 houses destroyed and thousands more suffering damage. Notably, at least 6,509 livestock have been lost. Punjab has emerged as the region most affected, with over 2.4 million people impacted, while a total of 2.6 million have been rescued nationwide, according to reports.
As of September 18, over 6.9 million people are affected by the floods across Pakistan. Assessments indicate that the ongoing disaster has severely damaged 670 kilometers of roads and 239 bridges. Despite international humanitarian efforts, the high water levels and saturated ground continue to pose significant flooding risks.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the Indus River is currently experiencing high to medium flood levels, while the Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers have reached historically unprecedented levels simultaneously. This alarming situation follows warnings from India concerning the release of water from several dams, which has further exacerbated the flooding in Punjab.
Officials warn that the current floods are the worst since 2022, when more than 1,700 people died and a third of the country was submerged, with damages estimated at $32 billion. Relief operations are ongoing, but rising waters threaten to cause additional devastation, especially in southern Sindh where tens of thousands remain displaced.
