More misery on way as Pakistan floods claim 45

Pakistani disaster relief officials issued fresh flood warnings yesterday after the death toll from heavy monsoon rain rose to 45 and waters paralysed parts of the largest city Karachi.

Flash floods caused by monsoon downpours have inundated some main roads in the sprawling port city and swept away homes in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The National Disaster Management Authority warned that more thunderstorms and heavy rain were expected today and some rivers may flood.

At least 45 people were killed in the floods over the weekend. Officials in Karachi said at least 19 had died in the city, 20 in the northwest and six in the southwestern province of Baluchistan.

Dr Semi Jamali, at the Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, said most of the deaths occurred due to electrocution or collapsing roofs and walls.

Army engineers helped relief efforts in Karachi yesterday, where roads and streets were flooded and the city was practically paralysed.