[Khaleej Times]Video: Karachi’s record rains in 89 years kill 23, plunge city into chaos

Pakistan’s flooded financial capital of Karachi was plunged into chaos on Friday with power cuts, streets under water and cellphone outages caused by heavy rain as authorities said at least 23 people had been killed in downpours the previous day.

Record torrential rainfall flooded major city streets and damaged homes and other buildings on Thursday, with more rain expected on Friday.

Karachi, population 15 million, is largely underwater: Pakistan’s biggest city had it roads turned to rivers, its houses destroyed and its people fleeing to shelters – suffering from its worst floods since records began#climate pic.twitter.com/9mapjYSc6F

– Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) August 28, 2020

“At least 23 people, including women and children, died in different accidents like wall and roof collapses and drownings,” Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi’s police chief, told Reuters.

The provincial government declared a public holiday to avoid residents having to commute on Friday with Chundrigar Road, home to the central bank, stock exchange and head offices of several banks, flooded.

Karachi floods: Pakistan’s biggest city hit by record rain and heavy floods

Pakistan is seeing the worst rainfall since records began 89 years ago. The annual monsoon rain is particularly bad this year and the city of Karachi is largely underwater. pic.twitter.com/rEqfdsHeCP

– Shana M ???? (@shana2727) August 28, 2020

The Chief Minister of Sindh province, Murad Ali Shah, ordered schools be used to accommodate displaced families, whose homes had been damaged or were unreachable.

Among the victims, nine people, including four children, were killed when a wall collapsed on them, a spokesman for Shah said. A 56-year-old disabled woman drowned at home, according to a hospital official.

Cellphone services were disrupted and much of the city was plunged in darkness overnight with the main power utility company K-Electric saying the “unprecedented situation” was hampering efforts to restore electricity.

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For More Reports Visit | https://t.co/SkZunOmuQa#KARACHI #AFTER #RAIN #UPDATE pic.twitter.com/WkJ9uATwDE

– Khyber News (@KhyberNews247) August 28, 2020

Oil refinery Pakistan Refinery Ltd said in a notice to the stock exchange that it was suspending operations due to hazards created by floods.

Pakistan’s Meteorological Department recorded 230.5 mm of rain in Karachi on Thursday, the highest ever recorded in a single day. The previous 24-hour record was on July 26, 1967, when 211.3 mm was recorded at Masroor base.

Rainfall in August is the highest since records began 89 years ago.

DHA Karachi right now#KarachiRain pic.twitter.com/k9Mxp31oui

– Gibran Peshimam (@gibranp) August 27, 2020