This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33251100
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan heatwave: Death toll over 800 in Sindh | Pakistan heatwave: Death toll over 800 in Sindh |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The death toll from a heatwave in Pakistan's southern Sindh province has passed 800, hospital officials say, as mortuaries reached capacity. | The death toll from a heatwave in Pakistan's southern Sindh province has passed 800, hospital officials say, as mortuaries reached capacity. |
| At least 780 people have died in Karachi, BBC Urdu reported. Another 30 deaths were reported elsewhere in the province, state owned PTV said. | At least 780 people have died in Karachi, BBC Urdu reported. Another 30 deaths were reported elsewhere in the province, state owned PTV said. |
| The Edhi Welfare Organisation told AFP that their mortuaries had received hundreds of corpses and were now full. | The Edhi Welfare Organisation told AFP that their mortuaries had received hundreds of corpses and were now full. |
| Officials have been criticised for not doing enough to tackle the crisis. | Officials have been criticised for not doing enough to tackle the crisis. |
| Wednesday has been declared a public holiday by the administration in Sindh in the hope that people will stay indoors out of the sun. | Wednesday has been declared a public holiday by the administration in Sindh in the hope that people will stay indoors out of the sun. |
| On Tuesday as temperatures reached 45C (113F), Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for emergency measures, and the army was deployed to help set up heat stroke centres. | On Tuesday as temperatures reached 45C (113F), Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called for emergency measures, and the army was deployed to help set up heat stroke centres. |
| Temperatures in Karachi have dropped to 34C (93F) thanks to wind from the sea but there is anger among local residents at the authorities because days of power cuts have restricted the use of air-conditioning units and fans. | Temperatures in Karachi have dropped to 34C (93F) thanks to wind from the sea but there is anger among local residents at the authorities because days of power cuts have restricted the use of air-conditioning units and fans. |
| Karachi resident Muzzafar Khan told the Associated Press: "The electricity hasn't been working since seven this morning and even during the night there were frequent breakdowns. | Karachi resident Muzzafar Khan told the Associated Press: "The electricity hasn't been working since seven this morning and even during the night there were frequent breakdowns. |
| "We are forced to sleep in the streets. Ours are small houses; the power supply cables get damaged frequently and nobody is dealing with this situation." | "We are forced to sleep in the streets. Ours are small houses; the power supply cables get damaged frequently and nobody is dealing with this situation." |
| Matters have been made worse by the widespread abstention from drinking water during daylight hours during the fasting month of Ramadan. | Matters have been made worse by the widespread abstention from drinking water during daylight hours during the fasting month of Ramadan. |
| Some clerics have issued statements and appeared on television reminding people they are not obliged to fast if they are weak, elderly or simply not fit to fast, the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani says. | Some clerics have issued statements and appeared on television reminding people they are not obliged to fast if they are weak, elderly or simply not fit to fast, the BBC's Shahzeb Jillani says. |
| Many of the victims are elderly people from low-income families. | Many of the victims are elderly people from low-income families. |
| Thousands more people are being treated, and some of them are in a serious condition. | Thousands more people are being treated, and some of them are in a serious condition. |
| Hot weather is not unusual during the summer months in Pakistan, but prolonged power cuts seem to have made matters worse, our correspondent reports. | Hot weather is not unusual during the summer months in Pakistan, but prolonged power cuts seem to have made matters worse, our correspondent reports. |
| Sporadic angry protests have taken place in parts of Karachi, with some people blaming the government and the city's main power utility, K-Electric, for failing to avoid deaths, our correspondent adds. | Sporadic angry protests have taken place in parts of Karachi, with some people blaming the government and the city's main power utility, K-Electric, for failing to avoid deaths, our correspondent adds. |
| The prime minister had announced that there would be no electricity cuts but outages have increased since the start of Ramadan, he reports. | The prime minister had announced that there would be no electricity cuts but outages have increased since the start of Ramadan, he reports. |
| The all-time highest temperature reached in Karachi is 47C, recorded in 1979. | The all-time highest temperature reached in Karachi is 47C, recorded in 1979. |
| Last month, nearly 1,700 people died in a heatwave in neighbouring India. | Last month, nearly 1,700 people died in a heatwave in neighbouring India. |
| Analysis: Shahzeb Jillani, BBC Karachi reporter | Analysis: Shahzeb Jillani, BBC Karachi reporter |
| There's anger on the streets about the government's slow response to the crisis. The provincial PPP government appeared aloof and unresponsive. The federal government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif woke up to the tragic deaths on the third day. | There's anger on the streets about the government's slow response to the crisis. The provincial PPP government appeared aloof and unresponsive. The federal government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif woke up to the tragic deaths on the third day. |
| While politicians blamed each other for not doing enough, the army - always keen to seize opportunities to demonstrate its soft power - sprang into action to set up "heat stroke relief camps". | While politicians blamed each other for not doing enough, the army - always keen to seize opportunities to demonstrate its soft power - sprang into action to set up "heat stroke relief camps". |
| Many in Karachi feel that had the authorities moved proactively many lives could have been saved. | Many in Karachi feel that had the authorities moved proactively many lives could have been saved. |
| The hope now is that with the expected pre-monsoon rains later in the week the weather will improve. That will certainly provide much-needed respite to millions affected by the heatwave, but it won't change the chronic underlying problems this ever-growing city of 20 million faces - a dysfunctional infrastructure and poor governance. | The hope now is that with the expected pre-monsoon rains later in the week the weather will improve. That will certainly provide much-needed respite to millions affected by the heatwave, but it won't change the chronic underlying problems this ever-growing city of 20 million faces - a dysfunctional infrastructure and poor governance. |
| How the body copes with extreme heat | How the body copes with extreme heat |
| The body's normal core temperature is 37-38C. | The body's normal core temperature is 37-38C. |
| If it heats up to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C heat exhaustion is likely - and bove 41C the body starts to shut down. | If it heats up to 39-40C, the brain tells the muscles to slow down and fatigue sets in. At 40-41C heat exhaustion is likely - and bove 41C the body starts to shut down. |
| Chemical processes start to be affected; the cells inside the body deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure. | Chemical processes start to be affected; the cells inside the body deteriorate and there is a risk of multiple organ failure. |
| The body cannot even sweat at this point because blood flow to the skin stops, making it feel cold and clammy. | The body cannot even sweat at this point because blood flow to the skin stops, making it feel cold and clammy. |
| Heatstroke - which can occur at any temperature over 40C - requires professional medical help. If not treated immediately, the chances of survival can be slim. | Heatstroke - which can occur at any temperature over 40C - requires professional medical help. If not treated immediately, the chances of survival can be slim. |
| There are a number of things people can do to help themselves. These include: | There are a number of things people can do to help themselves. These include: |
| What happens to the body in extreme heat? | What happens to the body in extreme heat? |
| Eight low-tech ways to keep cool in a heatwave | Eight low-tech ways to keep cool in a heatwave |