These two satellite images, taken on April 14, 2022 and August 31, 2022, show the Indus River and Lake Manchar, Pakistan’s largest lake, before and after a period of heavy rainfall and flooding during the monsoon season, which runs from June to September in the region. 

Pakistan experienced intense flooding across much of the country in the summer of 2022. The provinces of Balochistan and Sind in the south were the hardest hit.

The floods covered an area of 75,000 km2 where they affected 33 million people, and caused the displacement of an estimated eight million, according to official data. More than 1,700 people died, and 20.6 million needed humanitarian assistance. 

The disaster wiped out vast areas of farmland, impacting the food security of thousands. Millions of homes and infrastructure were severely damaged, leaving the country facing an unprecedented humanitarian and reconstruction crisis.

During the months leading up to the rainy season, Pakistan experienced severe heat waves with temperatures in excess of 50ºC. High temperatures can, under certain circumstances, trigger torrential rains due to the accumulation of moisture in the atmosphere.

• 14 April 2022 – Planet Labs
• 31 August 2022 – Planet Labs