A devastating flash flood, caused by torrential rainfall, ravaged northwest Pakistan, destroying towns and villages and killing over 300 people in a single day, including five rescue helicopter crew members. The remote mountainous northern part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region was hit with cloud bursts, flash floods, lightning strikes and landslides in the deadliest downpour of this year’s monsoon season. By Saturday, at least 307 were confirmed dead, with a large number of people, according to the reports coming out from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority(PDMA).
As damage assessments continue, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that seven houses were completely destroyed and 38 others damaged, primarily in Swat district. Additionally, three schools were demolished and three more sustained damage, according to the PDMA. The authority cautioned that rainfall is expected to persist across various parts of the province until August 21, as reported by Dawn.
Aid Helicopter Crashed
A helicopter crashed during a rescue mission in northern Pakistan on Friday. It killed five crew on board, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province said in a statement.
#BREAKING: Pakistani Helicopter belonging to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has crashed in bad weather killing 5 crew members including two pilots. The aircraft was carrying out a relief mission to flood-hit Bajaur when communication was cut off. pic.twitter.com/f2oVC9lunA
---Advertisement---— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 15, 2025
“An MI-17 helicopter of the provincial government, carrying relief goods for rain-affected areas of Bajaur, crashed in the Pandiyali area of Mohmand district due to bad weather,” Ali Amin Gandapur said in a statement, as reported by AFP. “Five crew members, including two pilots, were killed.”
Pakistan floods update : 255 dead in KPK, GB and AJK . The most affected where cloud burst took early morning while people were at sleep 158 a whole village wiped by fish floods. pic.twitter.com/FxPAdxCrMR
— Fakhar Ur Rehman (@Fakharrehman01) August 15, 2025
Fatalities and significant infrastructure damage were reported across Swat, Buner, Shangla, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Battagram, and Mansehra districts. In response, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced a one-day mourning period on Saturday to honor the five crew members of an Mi-17 helicopter who lost their lives when the aircraft crashed during a rescue mission.
Massive flash flood in Gulmit Gojal, upper Hunza Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan today 👀 pic.twitter.com/TmOcyF9waz
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) August 12, 2025
Dawn reports that the administration has issued a notification stating that the national flag will be flown at half-mast across the province as a mark of respect.
Rescue 1122 teams evacuated 2,071 stranded individuals, including 300 schoolchildren, to safety in Buner district amid heavy rainfall and flash floods. Deputy Commissioner Kashif Qayyum declared an emergency across the district as relief operations persisted in the disaster-affected areas.
