Islamabad, May 23: A searing heat wave has killed at least 65 people in Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi over the past three days, and it is feared that the death toll could climb.
Temperatures hit 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) on Monday, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, which is well above the average daily high of 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) for May.
The heat wave has coincided with power outages and the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours.
According to the Edhi Foundation, which operates morgues and an ambulance service in Pakistan’s biggest city, told local media that the deaths occurred mostly in the poor areas of Karachi such as Korangi and Sohrab Goth.
In 2015, at least 1,300, mostly elderly and sick, died from heatstrokes.
