Image source, Getty Images
- author, Caroline Davis
- role, Pakistan Correspondent
As temperatures rise in southern Pakistan, so does the death toll.
According to Edhi Ambulance Services, around 30 to 40 bodies are usually brought to Karachi’s morgue every day.
However, around 568 bodies have been retrieved in the past six days, of which 141 were retrieved on Tuesday alone.
It is too early to say exactly what the cause of death was in all cases.
But reports said the rise in the death toll was due to temperatures in Karachi soaring to more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and high humidity making it feel as hot as 49 degrees.
People are heading to hospitals for help.
Dr Imran Sarwar Sheikh, head of the emergency department at Karachi’s Civil Hospital, said 267 people had been admitted to hospital with heatstroke between Sunday and Wednesday. Of those, 12 have died.
“Most of the people coming into the hospital were in their 60s and 70s, but there were also a few around 45 and a few in their 20s,” Dr Sheikh told the BBC.
Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever.
“Many of the people we saw were working outside. We told them to drink plenty of water and dress lightly in these high temperatures.”
The high temperatures, which one meteorologist described as a “partial heat wave,” began over the weekend.
Heatwave centres and camps have been set up to provide relief to the public.
The photo shows children playing in the fountain to cool off.
“Look at me! My clothes are soaked with sweat,” Mohammed Imran told Reuters on Monday as he struggled to stay cool.
Not everyone who needed help made it to the hospital.
When Wasim Ahmed reached home he realised he was not feeling well.
The 56-year-old security guard had just finished a 12-hour night shift outdoors, and even then he found the temperature too hot.
“He came through the door and said he couldn’t stand the heat,” Wasim’s cousin, Adnan Zafar, told the BBC. “He asked for a glass of water and as soon as he finished he collapsed.”
By the time Wasim’s family took him to the hospital, doctors said he had already died of a suspected heart attack.
Adnan said he has a pre-existing heart condition but the heat had never bothered him before.
Some fear Karachi’s struggle to cope with the high temperatures is being exacerbated by frequent power outages that shut down the electric fans and air conditioners that many rely on to stay cool.
Mohammed Amin is among those suffering from a “blackout” – a cut in electricity supply – a common measure taken by the Electricity Board across Pakistan to maintain supplies.
His relatives said their apartment suffered frequent power outages.
According to his family, Muhammad, who was in his 40s, suddenly fell ill and later died.
The cause of death has not been released, but the family suspects heat stroke may have been the cause.
Around 30 people were found dead by emergency responders on the city’s streets, according to the Dawn newspaper.
Police medical officer Sumaiya Sayed told the paper that many were suspected to be drug-related, but there were no signs of injury.
Karachi is not the only city in Pakistan struggling to cope.
Last month, a near-record-breaking temperature of 52.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, according to Reuters.
Pakistan’s neighbouring countries have also suffered extreme and deadly temperatures in recent weeks.
Across the border, India’s capital Delhi has been hit by an “unprecedented” heatwave, with daily temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) since May, with maximum temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees.
Doctors in the city say they have never seen anything like this before.
For Karachi resident Mohammed Zeshan, the problem is clear.
“This is because of climate change,” he told Reuters. “This is happening all over the world. It’s happening in Europe. They are facing extreme heat but they have taken measures.”
“But it is unfortunate that the government has not taken any effective measures here.”
Experts agree that these types of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense as a result of climate change.
The heatwave currently gripping Karachi is expected to continue into next week, though temperatures are expected to dip slightly.
Weather experts are now focusing on the monsoon season, which is expected to arrive earlier and see a 60% increase in rainfall, according to experts who spoke to Dawn.
