Heavy monsoon rains paralyze Karachi, Pakistan
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Pakistan declares a climate crisis in Karachi as monsoon floods homes and streets and disrupts transport systems.
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Heavy monsoon rains paralyze Karachi, Pakistan (Photo Source: Social Media)
A climate emergency was declared in Karachi, Pakistan, on Monday as more torrent than usual monsoon rains continue to hit the city. The rains have flooded homes and streets.
The monsoon, which usually lasts from June to September, is vital for irrigating crops and replenishing lakes and dams throughout the region. Despite these benefits, monsoons regularly bring waves of destruction.
The environmental NGO Germwatch has ranked Pakistan as the sixth most susceptible nation to climate change-related severe weather.
In an effort to prevent flood pandemonium, the provincial administration of Sindh declared Monday a public holiday in Hyderabad and Karachi. However, low-lying districts, which had already been submerged by weeks of heavy rain, quickly became the site of the disaster.
"More rains are forecast in Karachi until tomorrow," warned Sardar Sarfraz, director of the Met office.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, at least 312 people died due to the monsoon rains.
Furthermore, at least two people in Karachi were electrocuted on Monday after power lines fell into flooded streets. Transport facilities such as flights and trains have also been disrupted.
A quarter of the country was affected by the worst floods in recent memory in 2010, which also caused the displacement of 20 million people and the deaths of over 2,000 people.
