Heatwave in Pakistan Kills 140; Threatens Ramadan Fasters
KARACHI, Pakistan, June 22 (UPI) — At least 140 people have died due to a heatwave across southern Pakistan, with Ramadan fasting and power outages exacerbating conditions and threatening more.
Most deaths have occurred in the city of Karachi. Hundreds have been admitted to hospitals suffering from dehydration and heatstroke.
Most victims were men above 50 years of age, but six women and five children also died.
In Karachi, which is predominantly Muslim, people who fast during Ramadan do not drink or eat between sunrise and sunset, increasing the likelihood of heat-related afflictions.
Temperatures have risen to more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest temperatures Pakistan has experienced in 15 years.
Temperatures in Karachi are expected to be more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit until Sunday.
“Hospitals across the city are overcrowded due to record numbers of patients suffering from heat stroke,” Sindh province health minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar said in a statement. “The numbers are unprecedented but the situation is under control.”
Power outages are a common occurrence in Pakistan due to mismanagement and corruption, which can worsen the effect of the heatwave. K-Electric, a private company, supplies Karachi’s electricity.
The metropolitan area of Karachi has a population of about 24 million.
