STORY: More than 300 people died in northwest Pakistan after two days of intense rains and floods, local officials said on Saturday (August 16).

Rescue efforts and clearing of blocked roads were ongoing with the release of emergency funds, they said, adding that the heavy rains would continue until August 21.

Cloud bursts, flash floods, lightning strikes, landslides, and the collapse of buildings caused the most deadly spell of this year’s monsoon season. By early Saturday, 307 were confirmed dead, with more people missing, in the hills and mountains of the region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.

Not only Pakistan but also parts of neighbouring India and Nepal have been hit hard by heavy rains, flooding and other rain-related incidents over the past week.

Buner district, a three-and-a-half hour drive north from Pakistan's capital Islamabad in normal times, was among the country's worst-hit, with 184 killed and widespread damage to infrastructure, crops and orchards, local officials said. A cloud burst, fallen trees and flash floods swept away people and possessions.

People, including women and children, remained trapped by floodwaters in some areas of Buner, with 93 bodies recovered.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BESHNORI, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 16, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PILES OF UPROOTED TREES AND SCATTERED LOGS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FLOOD

2. HEAVY MACHINERY WORKING TO CLEAR MASSIVE PILES OF FLOOD DEBRIS

3. LOCAL RESIDENTS SEARCHING THROUGH RUBBLE OF THEIR HOMES DESTROYED BY THE FLOOD

4. CROWD OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WATCHING AS HEAVY MACHINERY CLEARS PILES OF FLOOD WRECKAGE FROM THEIR VILLAGE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, AHMED KHAN, SAYING:

“I was going to work, and on the way I saw that there was a lot of water coming down. When I saw this, I turned back and people were shouting, "Save your life, save your life." Many people climbed the mountains and some people went to the sides. In this way, people saved their lives. And where we are standing, there were three or four houses. They were completely washed away by the water and no trace of them remained.”

6. VARIOUS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS SEARCHING THROUGH REMAINS OF THEIR HOMES DESTROYED BY THE FLOOD

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) LOCAL RESIDENT, AHMED KHAN, SAYING:

"In the house we're standing on, 17 deaths have occurred. 14 bodies have been recovered, and 3 are still missing. On the other side, another family has lost 8 members, with more still missing."

8. VARIOUS OF FLOOD DAMAGED CAR LYING DESTROYED IN THE AFTERMATH

9. VARIOUS OF HEAVY TRAFFIC MOVING SLOWLY THROUGH THE MUD AND DEBRIS FILLED STREETS OF BESHNORI TOWN IN BUNER DISTRICT