Home / Weather / Karachi Heatwave Claims Lives: 44.1°C Scorches City
Karachi Heatwave Claims Lives: 44.1°C Scorches City
5 May
Summary
- At least 10 people died in Karachi due to extreme heat.
- The temperature reached 44.1 degrees Celsius, the highest since 2018.
- Power outages and water shortages exacerbated public distress during the heatwave.
Karachi faced a critical heatwave on Monday, with the mercury soaring to 44.1 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature recorded since 2018. This intense heat, accompanied by continental winds, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people across the metropolis. The majority of the victims were found unidentified, with authorities noting they appeared to be drug users.
The extreme weather conditions led to widespread public distress, exacerbated by prolonged power outages, with some areas experiencing over 16 hours of load shedding. Students facing intermediate and O/A Level examinations found it difficult to cope with the heat, especially with frequent power breakdowns at examination centers. The city also continued to face water shortages.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that Monday's temperature was 7.8°C above the normal May average. Officials expect the temperature to decline from Tuesday, with a gradual drop expected over the week. However, there's a possibility of temperatures rising again after the second week of May. The recent temperature rise was predicted due to prevailing westerly winds, which delayed the return of the sea breeze.
