KARACHI, Pakistan — A devastating storm swept through Pakistan’s most populous city during overnight hours, claiming at least 15 lives and leaving numerous others wounded when structures gave way under intense weather conditions, according to emergency response teams and medical facility representatives who spoke Thursday.
The severe weather event started Wednesday and persisted through nighttime hours across Karachi, which serves as the provincial capital of Sindh in southern Pakistan. Local officials recommended that citizens limit travel to essential trips only.
Medical facilities in the metropolitan area received at least 15 fatalities, while more than 24 individuals required hospital treatment following weather-related accidents, according to statements from police surgeon Summaiya Tariq and emergency response coordinators.
The intense weather system also toppled numerous street-side trees and created significant transportation delays, rescue teams and law enforcement agencies reported.
Weather monitoring officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department recorded sustained winds reaching 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour) that continued for extended periods. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab issued public advisories encouraging citizens to remain in their homes and limit outdoor activities, noting that numerous trees had been downed and repair crews were actively working to restore roadway access.
Weather prediction services indicated that additional precipitation and severe thunderstorms accompanied by powerful winds and potential isolated hail could persist across Karachi and surrounding areas of Sindh province as a western atmospheric system continues moving through the region.
Emergency response agencies documented similar storm conditions and precipitation affecting numerous other regions throughout the nation.
