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Al Jazeera
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
At least 21 killed in Pakistan torrential rain, flooding
At least 21 people have died in monsoon rain-related incidents in Pakistan, authorities said, pushing the nationwide death toll over the last week above 400 as floods and landslides continue to devastate large parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Wednesday that 11 people were killed in Gilgit-Baltistan in the north and 10 others died in Karachi, Pakistan's financial hub, where heavy rain triggered electrocutions and house collapses. Schools in Karachi, a city of more than 20 million, remained closed as forecasters warned of further downpours until Saturday. Sindh's chief meteorologist, Amir Hyder Laghari, blamed 'weak infrastructure' for the severe flooding in urban areas. The city's ageing pipes and drains struggled to handle the deluge, leaving entire neighbourhoods submerged. Residents were seen scooping murky water from their homes as power and phone outages added to the disruption. Provincial officials reported 40 to 50 houses damaged in two districts. 'Another (rain) spell is to start by the end of the month,' NDMA chairman Inam Haider Malik said. The northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been hardest hit, with more than 350 people killed since last Thursday. Authorities and army units are searching for dozens of missing villagers in areas struck by flash floods and landslides. Excavators have been deployed to clear debris clogging rivers and drainage systems. 'We have established relief camps where we are providing medical assistance. We are also giving dry rations and tents to all the people,' army Colonel Irfan Afridi told the AFP news agency in Buner district, where more than 220 people have died in recent days. 'The children are scared. They say we cannot sleep at night due to fear,' said Anjum Anwar, a medical worker at a relief camp. 'The flood … has destroyed our entire settlements.' The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, often brings destruction to Pakistan's mountainous north and flood-prone south. Authorities warn the current rains may last until mid-September. Nearly 750 people have died since this year's monsoon began, officials said. Pakistan, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, has faced increasingly extreme weather in recent years. In 2022, monsoon floods submerged a third of the country, killing about 1,700 people.
Jordan Times
17 hours ago
- Climate
- Jordan Times
Torrential Pakistan monsoon rains kill more than 20
KARACHI — More than 20 people were killed on Wednesday in a torrential spell of monsoon rain in Pakistan, where downpours have swept away entire villages over the last week, leaving more than 400 dead. Eleven people died in the touristic northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan and 10 others in Karachi, the financial capital in the south, due to urban flooding that caused house collapses and electrocution, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. Schools remained closed in the city of more than 20 million, as the meteorological department predicted more rain till Saturday. Amir Hyder Laghari, chief meteorologist of the Sindh province, blamed "weak infrastructure" for the flooding in big cities. Karachi's crumbling pipes and sewer system struggled to cope with the downpours. Many areas of the city remained submerged on Wednesday, as residents scooped dirty rain water out from their homes with buckets. Multiple neighbourhoods experienced power cuts and connectivity problems. Between 40 and 50 houses were damaged in two districts, provincial disaster official Muhammad Younis said. "Another [rain] spell is to start by the end of the month," NDMA chairman Inam Haider Malik. More than 350 people have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous northern province bordering Afghanistan, since last Thursday. 'Children are scared' Authorities and the army were searching for dozens missing in villages hit by landslides and heavy rain, while excavators removed debris clogging drainage channels. "We have established relief camps where we are providing medical assistance. We are also giving dry rations and tents to all the people," army Colonel Irfan Afridi told AFP in Buner district, where more than 220 people were killed. Authorities have warned that the rains will continue until mid-September. "The children are scared. They say we cannot sleep at night due to fear," said Anjum Anwar, a medical camp official in Buner. "The flood... has destroyed our entire settlements." Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September. This year, nearly 750 people have died since the season started, according to authorities. Pakistan is among the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events. Monsoon floods submerged one-third of Pakistan in 2022, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths.
France 24
21 hours ago
- Climate
- France 24
More than 20 dead in fresh Pakistan monsoon rains
Eleven people died in the touristic northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan and 10 others in Karachi, the financial capital in the south, due to urban flooding that caused house collapses and electrocution, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. Schools remained closed in the city of more than 20 million, as the meteorological department predicted more rain till Saturday. Amir Hyder Laghari, chief meteorologist of the Sindh province, blamed "weak infrastructure" for the flooding in big cities. As Karachi's crumbling pipes and sewer system struggled to cope with the downpours, rush-hour drivers were caught in rising waters late Tuesday, and multiple neighbourhoods experienced power cuts. By Wednesday morning, the water had receded, an AFP photographer reported. Between 40 and 50 houses had been damaged in two districts, provincial disaster official Muhammad Younis said. "Another (rain) spell is to start by the end of the month," NDMA chairman Inam Haider Malik. More than 350 people have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous northern province bordering Afghanistan, since last Thursday. Authorities and the army are searching for dozens missing in villages that were hit by landslides and heavy rain. 'Children are scared' The floods interrupted communication networks and phone lines in flooded areas, while excavators worked to remove debris clogging drainage channels. "We have established relief camps where we are providing medical assistance. We are also giving dry rations and tents to all the people," army Colonel Irfan Afridi told AFP in Buner district, where more than 220 people were killed. Authorities have warned that the rains will continue until mid-September. "The children are scared. They say we cannot sleep at night due to fear," said Anjum Anwar, a medical camp official in Buner. "The flood... has destroyed our entire settlements." Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September. This year, nearly 750 people have died since the season started, according to authorities. Pakistan is among the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events. Monsoon floods submerged one-third of Pakistan in 2022, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than 20 dead in fresh Pakistan monsoon rains
More than 20 people have died on Wednesday in a torrential spell of monsoon rain in Pakistan, where downpours have swept away entire villages over the last week, killing more than 400. Eleven people died in the touristic northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan and 10 others in Karachi, the financial capital in the south, due to urban flooding that caused house collapses and electrocution, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. Schools remained closed in the city of more than 20 million, as the meteorological department predicted more rain till Saturday. Amir Hyder Laghari, chief meteorologist of the Sindh province, blamed "weak infrastructure" for the flooding in big cities. As Karachi's crumbling pipes and sewer system struggled to cope with the downpours, rush-hour drivers were caught in rising waters late Tuesday, and multiple neighbourhoods experienced power cuts. By Wednesday morning, the water had receded, an AFP photographer reported. Between 40 and 50 houses had been damaged in two districts, provincial disaster official Muhammad Younis said. "Another (rain) spell is to start by the end of the month," NDMA chairman Inam Haider Malik. More than 350 people have died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a mountainous northern province bordering Afghanistan, since last Thursday. Authorities and the army are searching for dozens missing in villages that were hit by landslides and heavy rain. - 'Children are scared' - The floods interrupted communication networks and phone lines in flooded areas, while excavators worked to remove debris clogging drainage channels. "We have established relief camps where we are providing medical assistance. We are also giving dry rations and tents to all the people," army Colonel Irfan Afridi told AFP in Buner district, where more than 220 people were killed. Authorities have warned that the rains will continue until mid-September. "The children are scared. They say we cannot sleep at night due to fear," said Anjum Anwar, a medical camp official in Buner. "The flood... has destroyed our entire settlements." Landslides and flash floods are common during the monsoon season, which typically begins in June and lasts until the end of September. This year, nearly 750 people have died since the season started, according to authorities. Pakistan is among the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and is increasingly facing extreme weather events. Monsoon floods submerged one-third of Pakistan in 2022, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths. stm/dhw
Business Recorder
07-06-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Karachi: Meteorologist says tremors reflect natural fault activity
KARACHI: Karachi has experienced an unusual and unsettling seismic episode, with 32 earthquakes recorded between June 1 and June 6, according to data released by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). The persistent tremors have stirred concern among residents, although no casualties or property damage reported so far. The PMD confirmed that the seismic sequence began just after midnight on June 1, when an earthquake of 3.0 magnitude struck near Malir at a depth of 15 kilometres — now identified as the first event of the current series. On June 2, the megacity experienced its strongest earthquake so far, a magnitude 3.6 tremor near Quaidabad at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The activity intensified on June 3, with the PMD recording 10 separate earthquakes, including three magnitude 3.2 events in Gadap Town and Quaidabad. Tremors ranging from magnitude 2.2 to 3.2 were reported in Malir and DHA City, with depths between 5 and 50 kilometres. The day of June 4 marked the most seismically active day, with 12 earthquakes. The most significant was a magnitude 3.4 tremor northwest of DHA, followed by several others between magnitude 2.0 and 3.2 that impacted Korangi, Malir, and DHA. Most occurred at depths up to 49 kilometres, making them widely perceptible. On June 5, four additional quakes were recorded, including the deepest of the series — a magnitude 3.1 tremor at a depth of 80 kilometres east of Malir. Other quakes ranged from magnitude 2.0 to 3.0, affecting areas south and southeast of DHA City. June 6 brought five more tremors, including the weakest of the series — a magnitude 1.5 quake northwest of Malir. The strongest, magnitude 2.7, occurred at a shallow depth of just 2 kilometres south of DHA, increasing its likelihood of being felt on the surface. The Met stated that most of the earthquakes were shallow, which made them more noticeable to residents. Quaidabad, Malir, and DHA emerged as the most affected areas, experiencing repeated ground shaking during the six-day period. Amid public anxiety, a local newspaper predicted a major earthquake might occur between June 5 and 7. The PMD strongly dismissed this claim, calling it speculative and lacking scientific basis. 'There is currently no reliable scientific method to predict the exact time and location of an earthquake,' a PMD official emphasized, urging citizens to rely only on official sources for updates. Chief Meteorologist Karachi, Amir Hyder Laghari, provided insight into the recent seismic behaviour, explaining that the tremors reflect natural fault activity. 'When a local fault becomes seismically active, it releases built-up tectonic stress through frequent, low-magnitude tremors,' he said. 'The more energy released in this way, the lower the likelihood of a large, sudden earthquake.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
