Thousands of Pakistanis flee tropical cyclone

Tens of thousands of Pakistanis were today fleeing to higher ground to avoid a tropical cyclone that was expected to lash the coastline with torrential rains and high winds.

At least three small boats were reported sunk and 19 fishing boats missing as the navy sent a warship and two helicopters to scour the rough seas in search of vessels caught up in the storm.

Cyclone Yemyin first hit parts of the coastline of Baluchistan province with winds of up to 60mph, said Qamaruz Zaman, director-general of the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

He said the storm's intensity was decelerating and would subside by evening, but not after dumping heavy rains that could last through the night.

Pakistan's largest city of Karachi, located on the same Arabian Sea coastline, was lashed by torrential rains and thunderstorms on Saturday that killed at least 228 people.

Officials warned of coastal flooding, prompting many to flee in panic. Most of the 120,000 residents of the southwestern port city of Gwadar moved to higher ground, Mayor Abdul Ghaffar Hoth said.

People from several smaller towns nearby loaded possessions onto camels or into cars and headed for the hills, he said.