Cloudburst floods kill nearly 400 in Pakistan, Karachi records heaviest rainfall since 1979

Torrential monsoon rains across Pakistan over the past week days have triggered widespread flash floods and landslides, killing at least 385 people and displacing thousands.

According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the death toll has now surpassed 700 since the start of the monsoon season. This includes 427 fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 164 in Punjab, 56 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, 29 in Sindh, 22 in Balochistan, and 8 in Islamabad.

In KP’s Buner district, a sudden cloudburst on August 15 triggered catastrophic flooding that killed approximately 280 people while more than 150 remain missing. Rescue operations are ongoing, but limited accessibility and criticism over insufficient early warnings have hampered efforts.

Cloudbursts are sudden, intense rainfall events typically associated with orographic lift in mountainous regions. Northern Pakistan’s terrain makes it particularly vulnerable to such localized but devastating downpours.

In the southern metropolis of Karachi, home to over 20 million people, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded up to 178 mm (7 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours to 08:00 LT on August 20, with many areas receiving more than 150 mm (6 inches).

PMD’s rainfall records listed 173 mm (6.8 inches) at Keamari, 164 mm (6.5 inches) in the Airport Old Area, and 156 mm (6.1 inches) at Jinnah Terminal.

Floodwaters submerged roadways, disrupted telecom networks, halted air traffic, and caused widespread power outages. Between 7 and 10 deaths were reported in Karachi due to electrocution, road accidents, drowning, and structural collapse.

In response, local authorities declared a public holiday, closing all schools, offices, and markets. Emergency services, including the military and paramilitary forces, have been deployed to support rescue and relief operations. Partial road access has been restored in some areas, while water and food distribution is ongoing.

On August 21, Orangi Town received 113 mm (4.4 inches). Near the airport, 163.5 mm (6.4 inches) was measured, the highest total at that site since 1979. Karachi’s drainage system is designed for about 40 mm (1.6 inches), far below what occurred.

Unofficial reports from the Pakistan Weather Portal claimed more than 100 mm (3.9 inches) fell within minutes in Karachi, though this remains unverified pending high-resolution logger data.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, thousands were displaced, roads and bridges were washed away, and mass burials followed after entire villages were inundated.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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