Heatwave death toll rises in Pakistan

A devastating heatwave has killed more than 400 people in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi over the past three days, health officials said, as paramilitaries set up emergency medical camps in the streets.

The heatwave, which coincides with major power cuts, has led to harsh criticism of the provincial government’s crumbling public health system and K-electric, the private company that supplies electricity to Karachi, the richest city in Pakistan and home to 20 million people.

Temperatures have touched 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in the steamy port city in recent days, up from a normal summer temperature of 37C (99F). But meteorological authorities say rain is due.

“The temperature will come down as the monsoon rain enters the Sindh coast, bringing rain to the city,” said Ghulam Rasool, director general of the Meteorological Department.

A morgue run by the charity Edhi Foundation has received more than 400 people who died due to complications from the heat in the past three days, official Anwar Kazmi said.

One of Karachi’s biggest public hospitals said more than 200 patients had died there of dehydration or heat exhaustion.