At least 11 people were killed after torrential monsoon rain caused the roof of a mud brick house to collapse in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, emergency officials said Tuesday, as severe weather continued to affect large parts of the country.
The tragedy occurred in Kohat district, where rescue teams worked through the night to recover the victims from the rubble.
Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency service, said the dead were mostly women and children. Their bodies were later handed over to relatives for burial.
The fatal collapse came as heavy monsoon rains swept across several regions of Pakistan, triggering landslides, flooding and widespread damage.
Provincial disaster officials said separate weather related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including lightning strikes, flash floods, collapsing walls and strong winds, left six people dead and injured 19 others. The severe weather also damaged 38 homes, with two houses completely destroyed.
In Punjab province, two children lost their lives and three other people were injured after a wall collapsed in Attock district during the storms.
In neighboring Baluchistan province, strong winds caused the roof of a house to collapse in Zhob district, killing three people, including a woman and children, while five others were injured, rescue authorities said.
Farther north, heavy rainfall triggered landslides across the Gilgit Baltistan region, blocking major roads and damaging homes, according to regional emergency officials.
The Pakistani government has advised tourists to avoid travel to northern parts of the country because of the heightened risk of landslides and flash flooding as unstable weather continues.
Authorities warned that additional rain is expected over the coming days and urged residents living in vulnerable communities to remain alert for rapidly rising water, landslides and structural collapses.
Pakistan experiences intense monsoon rainfall each year, but recent weather events have become increasingly destructive. Seasonal storms frequently trigger deadly floods and landslides, particularly in mountainous regions where unstable terrain and aging infrastructure increase the risk of disasters.
The country’s vulnerability was highlighted in 2022 when record breaking monsoon rains submerged nearly one third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people and causing an estimated 30 billion dollars in economic losses.
Experts say recurring extreme weather events underscore the growing need for stronger disaster preparedness, improved drainage systems and more resilient housing in flood prone and mountainous areas. Population growth and expanding settlements in high risk locations have further increased the number of people exposed to seasonal disasters.
What We Know So Far
Eleven people died after a mud brick house collapsed in Kohat district following heavy overnight rain. Additional weather related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Baluchistan caused more deaths, injuries and property damage, while landslides disrupted transportation in the Gilgit Baltistan region.
What Authorities Are Saying
Emergency officials confirmed that rescue teams recovered the victims from the collapsed home and warned that more heavy rainfall is expected. Government agencies have advised residents in vulnerable areas to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides and urged tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to northern Pakistan.
Why This Matters
Pakistan remains one of South Asia’s most climate vulnerable countries, with annual monsoon rains regularly causing loss of life and widespread destruction. Repeated disasters continue to expose weaknesses in housing construction, emergency preparedness and infrastructure, particularly in rural and mountainous communities.
What Happens Next
Weather authorities expect additional rainfall in several regions over the coming days, raising concerns about fresh flooding and landslides. Emergency services remain on alert as local governments monitor vulnerable communities and continue damage assessments.
The latest fatalities illustrate the growing challenge Pakistan faces as increasingly intense monsoon seasons place greater pressure on aging infrastructure and emergency response systems. While seasonal rainfall has long been part of the country’s climate, more frequent extreme weather events have heightened risks for millions of residents. Investments in resilient housing, early warning systems and disaster mitigation measures are expected to become increasingly important as climate related weather patterns continue to intensify.
