More than 1,200 people have died in recent weeks as heavy and torrential rains drenched vast parts of Pakistan, a crisis that is now threatening even more severe floods in the southern regions. The prolonged downpours have overwhelmed communities, overwhelmed infrastructure, and stretched emergency services as residents brace for renewed advances of floodwater from rivers that have burst their banks.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported that 416 of the fatalities were children, with the total number of injured rising to 6,082. In the last 24 hours alone, the death toll rose by 19. Across the nation, responders are racing to reach affected families and provide life-saving aid, as authorities track evolving river conditions and changing weather patterns. The scale of the disaster has forced many to leave their homes, seeking safety in makeshift shelters while relief supplies struggle to reach the hardest-hit pockets.
In the southern city of Dadu, water levels continued to climb this Friday, reflecting the relentless flood impact. The Indus River, already swollen, has sent floodwaters sweeping through surrounding districts, creating widespread disruption and leaving communities grappling with damage to homes, livelihoods, and vital infrastructure.
Emergency crews are evacuating millions of people from remote villages across the south, and officials warned that additional floods could emerge as rivers from the north continue to overflow. Reports from national presses say these efforts aim to keep people out of harm’s way and to prevent a larger humanitarian crisis.
“A race against time” is how one spokesperson for the Sindh state government described the situation as devastation spreads to new areas. Floodwaters are pressing into the lakes around Dadu, including Manchhar and Johi, leaving thousands stranded without food, clean drinking water, or secure shelter as authorities scramble to coordinate relief for the worst-affected.
The Indus River, which flows southward from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea, has surged again after heavy mountain rains last week. Roughly 20,000 cubic meters of water per second are coursing downstream, a pace that threatens major cities in Sindh with inundation and disruption of daily life, commerce, and essential services.
In the north, persistent rainfall continues to flood numerous locations. While the severity of rainfall has begun to ease in some places, thousands remain without access to food, clean water, or shelter, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian needs and the slow pace of recovery for many communities still reeling from the floods.