Every single year in Karachi, Pakistan, heavy rains come pouring down, flooding the homes of residents and disrupting everything that is in its path, drowning many people. But this year, the monsoons came earlier in the month and were unusually strong. As it turns out, climate change and bad infrastructure is worsening Pakistan’s devastating flood seasons.
Every year, Pakistan residents struggle when the floods hit. This year’s flood struck exceptionally viciously. The flood damaged people’s homes more than usual, and the government didn’t even bother to help. According to The New York Times, Murtaza Hussain, a 45-year-old who lives in a slum called Kausar Niazi Colony in Karachi, Pakistan, said, “it took us nearly two days to clean the water and get the house back to normal. There was no help from the government. Every year, the government says there will be no flooding, but the problem is getting worse.”
Due to worsening climate change, glaciers are melting faster, and as a result, sea levels are rising and causing several flash floods. Many of these natural disasters that are occurring more frequently due to climate change are causing buildings to be destroyed. Roads have also turned into vast rivers.
In the past five weeks, the floods have already killed more than 282 people, and Pakistan has lost almost 10,000 lives due to the natural disasters it is constantly experiencing. Pakistan’s economic losses are worth almost $4 billion. These large numbers of lost lives and lost money could have been prevented. According to News18.com, experts say, “the data indicates that the Pakistani government is not taking enough measures to cope with the challenges and risks that climate change poses to the country.”
A carpenter who lives in Karachi named Danish fell into a drain after the road was completely flooded while he was riding on a motorcycle. His wife and both of his children were with him, but unfortunately, his wife and one of his children drowned. According to The New York Times, Danish said, “It was not rain that killed my wife and child. It was the government’s incompetence and people’s helplessness.”
Every year, Pakistan residents struggle when the floods hit. This year’s flood struck exceptionally viciously. The flood damaged people’s homes more than usual, and the government didn’t even bother to help. According to The New York Times, Murtaza Hussain, a 45-year-old who lives in a slum called Kausar Niazi Colony in Karachi, Pakistan, said, “it took us nearly two days to clean the water and get the house back to normal. There was no help from the government. Every year, the government says there will be no flooding, but the problem is getting worse.”
Due to worsening climate change, glaciers are melting faster, and as a result, sea levels are rising and causing several flash floods. Many of these natural disasters that are occurring more frequently due to climate change are causing buildings to be destroyed. Roads have also turned into vast rivers.
In the past five weeks, the floods have already killed more than 282 people, and Pakistan has lost almost 10,000 lives due to the natural disasters it is constantly experiencing. Pakistan’s economic losses are worth almost $4 billion. These large numbers of lost lives and lost money could have been prevented. According to News18.com, experts say, “the data indicates that the Pakistani government is not taking enough measures to cope with the challenges and risks that climate change poses to the country.”
A carpenter who lives in Karachi named Danish fell into a drain after the road was completely flooded while he was riding on a motorcycle. His wife and both of his children were with him, but unfortunately, his wife and one of his children drowned. According to The New York Times, Danish said, “It was not rain that killed my wife and child. It was the government’s incompetence and people’s helplessness.”
