BUNER, Pakistan — The death toll from recent flooding in northwestern Pakistan has risen to at least 274, prompting authorities to defend their response to the disaster. Rescuers have recovered dozens of bodies from collapsed homes in Buner, a mountainous district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where heavy rains and cloudbursts caused massive flooding on Friday.

Mohammad Suhail, a spokesman for Pakistan’s emergency service, reported that 54 bodies were found in Buner. Search efforts continue for villagers who remain missing, particularly in areas where torrents of water swept down from the mountains, demolishing homes.

Authorities have issued warnings of more heavy rains and potential landslides through Tuesday, urging local administrations to stay vigilant. Since June 26, the country has experienced higher-than-normal monsoon rains, resulting in over 600 fatalities nationwide.

In the neighboring region of Indian-administered Kashmir, flash floods triggered by heavy rains have also claimed lives. Officials reported that at least seven people died in the Kathua district, with ongoing rescue efforts in Chositi village, where dozens are still missing after last week's floods during an annual Hindu pilgrimage.

Residents in Buner have criticized officials for not providing timely evacuation warnings. Traditionally, such alerts are broadcast from mosque loudspeakers, but many claim no warnings were issued. The government stated that while an early warning system exists, the intensity of the downpour in Buner was so severe that it struck before residents could be notified.

Lt. Gen. Inam Haider, chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, addressed the media in Islamabad, attributing the extreme weather to climate change. He noted that since the start of the monsoon season, Pakistan has received 50% more rainfall than during the same period last year. Haider cautioned that more intense weather could be on the horizon, with heavy rains expected to persist this month.

Asfandyar Khan Khattak, director-general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, emphasized that no forecasting system can predict the exact timing and location of a cloudburst.

Local schoolteacher Mohammad Iqbal expressed frustration over the lack of timely warnings, stating, "Survivors escaped with nothing. If people had been informed earlier, lives could have been saved and residents could have moved to safer places."

Idrees Mahsud, a disaster management official, explained that the early warning system relies on satellite imagery and meteorological data to alert local authorities, which are then communicated through media and community leaders.

Emergency services spokesman Mohammad Sohail reported that more than half of the damaged roads in Buner had reopened by Sunday, allowing access for vehicles and heavy machinery to reach isolated villages. Crews are working to clear debris and rubble from collapsed homes, as families continue to search for missing relatives.

In one tragic incident, 24 members of a single family perished in Qadar Nagar when floodwaters inundated their home just before a wedding. Umar Khan, the family head, survived because he was away from the house at the time, but four of his relatives remain unaccounted for.

Pakistan is particularly susceptible to climate-induced disasters. In 2022, a record monsoon season resulted in nearly 1,700 deaths and the destruction of millions of homes. The country regularly faces flash floods and landslides during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September, especially in the rugged northwest where villages are often situated on steep slopes and riverbanks.

Experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of extreme weather events in South Asia. Khalid Khan, a weather expert, noted that while Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is still severely impacted by climate-related disasters.