A severe weather system pummeled Pakistan’s port metropolis of Karachi overnight, resulting in significant casualties and widespread disruption. Emergency services confirmed a death toll of at least 15 individuals, with more than two dozen others sustaining injuries, following a night of torrential rains and destructive winds exceeding 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph).
The tempest, which commenced on Wednesday and persisted through the night, triggered multiple structural failures across the city. Officials reported that the fatalities and injuries were primarily caused by the collapse of residential walls and roofs under the force of the storm. The main city hospital received numerous casualties as the emergency response was activated.
Beyond the human toll, the powerful winds wreaked havoc on urban infrastructure. Countless roadside trees were uprooted, blocking major thoroughfares and bringing traffic to a standstill. Municipal crews, under the direction of Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, initiated large-scale clearance operations to restore access. Authorities issued repeated advisories, urging the city’s millions of residents to remain indoors and avoid all non-essential travel to facilitate rescue efforts and prevent further accidents.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department attributed the extreme conditions to a westerly weather system moving across the southern region. Forecasters have issued further warnings, predicting continued rain and thunderstorms with strong gusts and potential isolated hailstorms for Karachi and surrounding areas of Sindh province. Similar severe weather was also reported impacting other regions across the nation, indicating a widespread climatic event.