KARACHI — A severe overnight storm killed at least 19 people in Karachi as heavy rains and strong winds battered Pakistan's largest city Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The storm injured more than two dozen people who were treated at hospitals after weather-related incidents.
Rescuers recovered 13 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed structure in Mawachh Goth, Baldia Town, with search operations continuing for others feared trapped. Two people, including a woman, were killed when a wall collapsed in Majeed Colony in Landhi. A woman was killed when the roof of her house collapsed in Sector 3½ of Korangi, and a man died after a tree fell on him in Korangi No 5. A man died after being struck by lightning near Yaru Goth in the Malir River area.
At least 15 bodies were brought to Karachi's main hospital. Walls and roofs collapsed at multiple locations throughout the city during the storm. The storm uprooted roadside trees and disrupted traffic across Karachi.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said winds of up to 90 kph lasted for several hours during the storm. Karachi is the capital of Sindh province.
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab urged residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement. Wahab warned that many trees had fallen and crews were working to clear roads. Authorities advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
The storm caused prolonged power outages in several areas of Karachi. Power utility K-Electric said supply remained active on around 1,840 of its 2,100 feeders, with about 260 still affected by rain-related faults. Rainfall varied across the city, with the highest recorded at 55.6 mm in Korangi.
Forecasters said more rain and thunderstorms with strong winds and possible isolated hailstorms could continue to affect Karachi and other parts of Sindh province as a westerly weather system moves across the region. Officials warned that additional spells of heavy rain were likely in the coming hours, with rainfall of 50 mm or more expected in some areas. The weather system is forecast to impact several districts across Sindh, including Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar and Sukkur, with the risk of lightning strikes and strong winds. Emergency services remain on high alert as officials continue rescue and relief operations across Karachi.