Global warming exacerbates devastating floods in Pakistan, according to a new research finding
Heavy Monsoon Rains Cause Devastation in South Asia
This year, South Asia has been hit by a series of disasters caused by heavy monsoon rains. The most affected country is Pakistan, which has been battling floods since June 2025.
According to a report by World Weather Attribution, the rainfall in Pakistan from June 24 to July 23, 2025, was around 10% to 15% heavier than usual due to climate change. This increase in rainfall has led to catastrophic flooding, resulting in numerous casualties and displacement.
Pakistan's disaster management authority has issued fresh flood alerts this week, warning of potential flash floods. The authority reported at least 300 deaths due to floods, heavy rain, and other weather-related incidents between June 26 and August 3, 2025. Most of the deaths were due to collapsing buildings, a common occurrence in fragile settlements.
Maja Vahlberg, of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, stated that half of Pakistan's urban population lives in fragile settlements, making the country especially vulnerable during the monsoon season. Vahlberg suggested building flood-resilient houses and avoiding construction in flood zones to reduce the impacts of heavy monsoon rain.
Pakistan's rapid urbanization, with people often living in makeshift homes in flood-prone areas, has made the country even more vulnerable. The country's population is 250 million, with most of its residents living in urban areas.
The flooding in Pakistan follows catastrophic high waters in 2022, which resulted in over 1,700 deaths during the monsoon. This year's flooding has also affected several hydropower dams in the region.
The flooding in Pakistan has not been an isolated incident. Overflowing glacial lakes in July resulted in flooding that washed away a key bridge connecting Nepal and China. A village in northern India was hit by floods and landslides this week, killing at least four people and leaving hundreds missing.
According to a study by an international group of scientists, the extreme flooding in Pakistan in 2025 can be attributed to a significant contribution of human-caused climate change. Every tenth of a degree of warming will lead to heavier monsoon rainfall, as stated by Mariam Zachariah, lead author of the study.
A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, making rain more intense, according to climate scientists. This means that as the climate continues to warm, the risk of extreme weather events such as floods will increase.
In light of these events, it is crucial to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate change. Building flood-resilient infrastructure and avoiding construction in flood zones can help reduce the impacts of heavy monsoon rain. The future of South Asia depends on our ability to address the challenges posed by climate change.
