2015 Pakistani heat wave

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2015 Pakistani heatwave
2015 Pakistani 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 23 June 2015, there have been an estimated 770 deaths[1][2][3][4][5][6]
A severe heat wave struck Pakistan in June 2015, mostly affecting Sindh, Southern Punjab, and Balochistan.[7][8][9][10] As of 23 June 2015, it may have caused the deaths of an estimated 770 people or more, mostly in Karachi, though the exact death toll is uncertain.[2][3][5][11][8][12][13]
The heat wave occurred during the Islamic month of Ramadan; the electricity grid crashed during the first day of Ramadan, leaving scores dead.[14][15] The 2015 heat wave has had the highest recorded temperatures since 1979.[8][16]

Causes[edit]

Asif Shuja, the former director general of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, claimed that the heat wave was a symptom of global climate change, aggravated by deforestation, expansion of asphalt-made super highways, and rapidurbanisation.[17] He 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."[17] Shuja went on to say that the lack of sophisticated weather prediction technology in Pakistan contributed to the casualties of the heat wave.

Affected areas[edit]

Karachi[edit]

In Karachi alone, 748 died due to dehydration and heat stroke.[18][19][20][21][4] So far, 119 dead bodies were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, 279 bodies to JPMC and 98 bodies to theCivil Hospital, whereas numerous dead were also shifted to private hospitals.[1][5][14][22] The heatwave also claimed lives of three zoo animals.[23]

Thatta[edit]

Five people died in Thatta in the interior Sindh.[5]

Tharparker[edit]

A health official reported deaths of a man, an infant and two children, adding that the desert Tharparker District has been without electricity since 19 June.[17]

Recorded temperatures[edit]

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.[5][17][24][25]
DatePlaceTemperature
20 June 2015Karachi45 °C (113 °F)
20 June 2015Larkana49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015Turbat49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015Sibi49 °C (120 °F)
20 June 2015Rahim Yar Khan43 °C (109 °F)
20 June 2015Dadu44 °C (111 °F)
20 June 2015Multan40 °C (104 °F)
20 June 2015Nawabshah41 °C (106 °F)
20 June 2015Hyderabad42 °C (108 °F)

Relief efforts[edit]

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.[26][27] 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.[14]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b "CM Sindh surfaces as over 770 perish in blistering heat". Dawn News. June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 23,2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to:a b "Opp calls for day of mourning over heatwave deaths".
  3. ^ Jump up to:a b "Heatwave in Karachi claims 600 lives in 72 hours". The News International. 23 June 2015.
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b "Pakistan heatwave kills 572, over 400 in Karachi".
  5. ^ Jump up to: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.
  6. Jump up^ "Up to 700 dead as Pakistan reels under blistering heat".aljazeera.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  7. Jump up^ "The Death Toll from Pakistan's Heatwave Is Now Nearing 450".
  8. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 120 dead". BBC. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  9. Jump up^ "Heat wave claims 475 lives in 3 days in seething Karachi".
  10. Jump up^ "Heatwave kills around 400 people in Karachi".
  11. Jump up^ "A Heat Wave in Pakistan Has Killed Around 140 People". Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  12. Jump up^ "Heatwave devastates Karachi, other parts of Sindh; at least 136 dead". Dawn. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  13. Jump up^ "Pakistan heat wave claims at least 140 lives in Karachi". CNN. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  14. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Heatwave in Pakistan's Sindh province leaves 141 dead". Economic Times. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June2015.
  15. Jump up^ "Heat wave kills more than 120 in Pakistan's Karachi". Reuters. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  16. Jump up^ "Pakistan heatwave: Emergency measures as toll nears 700".
  17. ^ Jump up to:a b c d "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.
  18. Jump up^ "Death toll in Karachi heatwave mounts to 748". Retrieved2015-06-24.
  19. Jump up^ "Brutal Pakistan heatwave kills 630 people in Karachi".
  20. Jump up^ "CM Sindh surfaces as 500 perish in blistering heat".
  21. Jump up^ "Pakistan Heat Wave Kills Over 400 People in Karachi, But Rain Expected".
  22. Jump up^ "Pakistan: Sindh heatwave claims 140 lives mostly in Karachi". IB TImes. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  23. Jump up^ "Karachi heatwave claims lives of three zoo animals".
  24. Jump up^ "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.
  25. Jump up^ "Pakistan melts under scorching heat, hottest year recorded". Pakistan Today. 21 June 2015. Retrieved22 June 2015.
  26. Jump up^ "Heatwave kills 90 in Karachi as residents grapple with power outages". Express Tribune. 22 June 2015. Retrieved22 June 2015.
  27. Jump up^ "Heatwave kills more than 120 in Pakistan". Telegraph. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.