2015 Pakistan heat wave
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
  Karachi 45 °C (113 °F) Turbat 49 °C (120 °F) Larkana 49 °C (120 °F) Rahim Yar Khan 43 °C (109 °F) Multan 40 °C (104 °F) A map marking significantly affected cities | |
| Date | Since June 2015 |
|---|---|
| Location | Pakistan |
| Casualties | |
| As of 23 June 2015[update], there were more than 572 deaths[1][2][3][4] | |
A heat wave severely struck Pakistan on June 2015, mostly effecting the Sindh, Southern Skirts of Punjab, and Balochistan.[5] As of 23 June 2015, it has caused the deaths of at 572 people, mostly in Karachi.[6][3][7][8][9][10]
The heat wave occurred during the Islamic month of Ramadan[11] when the electricity grid crashed during the first day of Ramadan which left scores dead.[12] The 2015 heat wave has had the highest recorded temperatures since 1979.
Background
The Environmental Protection Agency (Pakistan EPA) noted the heat wave has been caused by deforestation, expansion of asphalt-made super highways, and rapid urbanization due to their contributions on climate change.[13]
Testimonial accounts by former director-general of Pakistan EPA, Asif Shuja, who maintained that: "There has been a rise in the Earth's average temperature from 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) to 16.2 °C (61.2 °F) over the last 100 years due to which we are experiencing such extreme weather conditions both in summers and winters."[13] The Pakistan EPA maintained that the last 30 years – from 1993-2012 – had been warmer than the last 1,400 years. Scientists envisage a rise of 1.0-6.7 degrees Celsius (1.8-12.1 degrees Fahrenheit) in temperature up to the year 2100.[13]
Deforestation, growing number of road vehicles, and rapid urbanisation contributed to the climate change, Shuja said.[13]
Affected areas
Karachi
In Karachi alone, 572 alone died and majority of those are elderly people and the homeless due to suffocation, dehydration and heat strokes.[14] So far, 68 dead bodies were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed hospital and 35 bodies to the Civil hospital.[3][11][15]
Thatta
Five people died in Thatta in the interior Sindh.[3]
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.[13]
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.[3][13][16][17]
| Date | Place | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| 20 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.[18][19] 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.[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Pakistan heatwave kills 572, over 400 in Karachi".
- ^ "Death toll from heatwave rises to 350 in Karachi".
- ^ a b c d e "Heatwave in southern Pakistan kills 260". Times of India. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave in southern Pakistan kills 260 people". IBN Live. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 224 dead".
- ^ "Death toll from heatwave rises to 350 in Karachi".
- ^ "A Heat Wave in Pakistan Has Killed Around 140 People". Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 120 dead". BBC. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave devastates Karachi, other parts of Sindh; at least 136 dead". Dawn. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Pakistan heat wave claims at least 140 lives in Karachi". CNN. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 141 dead". Economic Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heat wave kills more than 120 in Pakistan's Karachi". Reuters. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "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.
- ^ "Pakistan heatwave kills 572, over 400 in Karachi".
- ^ "Pakistan: Sindh heatwave claims 140 lives mostly in Karachi". IB TImes. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Pakistan melts under scorching heat, hottest year recorded". Pakistan Today. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave kills 90 in Karachi as residents grapple with power outages". Express Tribune. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Heatwave kills more than 120 in Pakistan". Telegraph. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
