Pakistan heatwave death toll tops 150

More than 150 people have died in a 10-day heat wave across Pakistan, officials said today.

At least 157 people have died in the scorching temperatures, said Mohammed Sabir, an official at the Health Ministry. He gave no breakdown of where the deaths occurred.

As many as 115 died in eastern Punjab province, said Javed Asghar, a health official in Lahore, the provincial capital.

According to local media reports, another 30 died in the southern province of Sindh, while other casualties occurred in south-western and north-western Pakistan.

Imran Siddiqi, an official at Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, said the temperature soared to 49 degrees Celsius in Nukkundi, a town in the south-western Baluchistan province.

Forecasters expect monsoon rains to begin this week, breaking the continuing spell of sweltering weather.