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==Recorded temperatures==
==Recorded temperatures==
High temperatures were recorded in Pakistan's southern areas. The temperature ranged from {{convert|49|C}} in Larkana and Sibi to {{convert|45|C}} in Karachi. In southern Punjab, {{convert|40|C}} was recorded in Multan whereas several areas of the Balochistan province were also affected where temperature touched {{convert|49|C}} in Sibi and Turbat.<ref name="TOI"/><ref name="TET"/><ref name="GEO">{{cite news|title=Temperature soars to 46, load shedding adds to woes|url=http://www.geo.tv/article-188612-Temperature-soars-to-46-load-shedding-adds-to-woes|date=June 20, 2015|work=Geo TV|accessdate=June 22, 2015|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6ZTnVsAHQ|archivedate=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
High temperatures were recorded in Pakistan's southern areas. The temperature ranged from {{convert|49|C}} in Larkana and Sibi to {{convert|45|C}} in Karachi. In southern Punjab, {{convert|40|C}} was recorded in Multan whereas several areas of the Balochistan province were also affected where temperature touched {{convert|49|C}} in Sibi and Turbat.<ref name="TOI"/><ref name="TET"/><ref name="GEO">{{cite news|title=Temperature soars to 46, load shedding adds to woes|url=http://www.geo.tv/article-188612-Temperature-soars-to-46-load-shedding-adds-to-woes|date=June 20, 2015|work=Geo TV|accessdate=June 22, 2015|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6ZTnVsAHQ|archivedate=June 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name="PT">{{cite news|title=Pakistan melts under scorching heat, hottest year recorded|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/06/21/national/pakistan-melts-under-scorching-heat-hottest-year-recorded/|date=June 21, 2015|work=Pakistan Today|accessdate=June 22, 2015|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6ZTnxbCLy|archivedate=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
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Revision as of 16:23, 22 June 2015

2015 Pakistani heatwave
2015 Pakistan heat wave is located in Pakistan
Karachi 45 °C (113 °F)
Karachi 45 °C (113 °F)
Turbat 49 °C (120 °F)
Turbat 49 °C (120 °F)
Larkana 49 °C (120 °F)
Larkana 49 °C (120 °F)
Rahim Yar Khan 43 °C (109 °F)
Rahim Yar Khan 43 °C (109 °F)
Multan 40 °C (104 °F)
Multan 40 °C (104 °F)
A map marking significantly affected cities
DateSince June 2015
LocationPakistan
Casualties
As of 22 June 2015, there were more than 260 deaths[1]

In June 2015, Pakistan was struck by a severe heat wave. As of 22 June 2015, it has caused the deaths of at least 260 people mostly in Karachi,[1][2][3][4] where on June 21, temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius, which is the highest-recorded temperature in Pakistan in the past 15 years.[1][5] The heat wave occurred during the fasting month of Ramadan[6] when the electricity grid crashed during the first day of Ramadan which left scores dead.[7] The 2015 heat wave has had the highest recorded temperatures since 1979.

Background

A former director general of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA), Asif Shuja said, "There has been a rise in the earth’s average temperature from 15.5°C to 16.2°C over the last 100 years due to which we are experiencing such extreme weather conditions both in summers and winters." "The last 30 years – from 1993-2012 – had been warmer than the last 1,400 years. Scientists envisage a rise of 1-6.67°C in temperature till 2100 which will be disastrous," he added. Deforestation, growing number of road vehicles and rapid urbanisation contributed to the climate change, Shuja said.[8]

Affected areas

Karachi

In Karachi alone, 150 alone died and majority of those are elderly people and the homeless due to suffocation, dehydration and heat strokes. So far, 68 dead bodies were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital and 35 bodies to the Civil hospital.[1][6][9]

Thatta

Five people died in Thatta in the interior Sindh.[1]

Tharparker

A health official reported deaths of a man, an infant and two children adding that the desert district has been without electricity since 19 June.[8]

Recorded temperatures

High temperatures were recorded in Pakistan's southern areas. The temperature ranged from 49 °C (120 °F) in Larkana and Sibi to 45 °C (113 °F) in Karachi. In southern Punjab, 40 °C (104 °F) was recorded in Multan whereas several areas of the Balochistan province were also affected where temperature touched 49 °C (120 °F) in Sibi and Turbat.[1][8][10][11]

Date Place Temperature
19 June 2015 Karachi 45 °C (113 °F)
20 June 2015 Larkana 49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015 Turbat 49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015 Sibi 49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015 Rahim Yar Khan 43 °C (109 °F)
20 June 2015 Dadu 44 °C (111 °F)
20 June 2015 Multan 40 °C (104 °F)
20 June 2015 Nawabshah 41 °C (106 °F)
20 June 2015 Hyderabad 42 °C (108 °F)

Relief efforts

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif warned electric supply companies that he would not tolerate power outages during Ramadan. Karachi University postponed its exams for at least one month due to the intense heatwave.[12][13] Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah announced that emergency has been declared in all the government hospitals of Karachi and other cities in Sindh.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Heatwave in southern Pakistan kills 260". Times of India. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  2. ^ "A Heat Wave in Pakistan Has Killed Around 140 People". Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 120 dead". BBC. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Heatwave devastates Karachi, other parts of Sindh; at least 136 dead". Dawn. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Pakistan heat wave claims at least 140 lives in Karachi". CNN. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 141 dead". Economic Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Heat wave kills more than 120 in Pakistan's Karachi". Reuters. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Heat wave: Under scorching sun, Pakistan swelters". The Express Tribune. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Pakistan: Sindh heatwave claims 140 lives mostly in Karachi". IB TImes. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Temperature soars to 46, load shedding adds to woes". Geo TV. 20 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Pakistan melts under scorching heat, hottest year recorded". Pakistan Today. 21 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Heatwave kills 90 in Karachi as residents grapple with power outages". Express Tribune. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Heatwave kills more than 120 in Pakistan". Telegraph. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.