Floods in Pakistan and Southern Asia have caused many deaths and property damage. Billions of rupees, which is Pakistan’s currency, have been lost due to water flooding important markets and shops.
The recent flash floods are caused by the monsoon (rainy season/phase) rain. Pakistan’s infrastructure isn’t the greatest for draining water, and the abnormal amount of water this year caused the huge flooding across major cities. In Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, neighborhoods have been submerged in 3 feet of water. Pakistan’s government has since issued warnings of further extreme monsoon downpours in 14 other cities.
While seasonal monsoon rains usually cause death and property damage, it usually isn’t on this scale. The main factor is probably climate change, causing more water to build up in the atmosphere. Pakistan reports that this year’s rainfall during the monsoon season was 87% higher than past years.
In Karachi alone, 310 people have died and hundreds have been injured. Roads are nearly impassable which have caused many services and businesses to close. Since Saturday July 23rd, 15 people have died. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said infrastructure, road networks, and 5,600 homes had been damaged.
Pakistan recently dealt with an extreme heatwave earlier in the year, which combined with the flash flooding, earned Pakistan its spot on the Global Climate Risk Index as one of the most vulnerable countries. The index records economic and human loss due to extreme weather. In total, Pakistan has an estimated 10,000 lives lost due to environmental disasters, as well as $4bn financial losses from 2008-2018.
One climate activist, Afia Salam, says, “climate is playing its part. We have shifting monsoon, we have heavier rainfalls, we have rain falling within a very short period of time which used to be spread-over, so these changing weather patterns are there. Karachi facing urban flooding is the sign of the times of unpredictable weather. We have not adapted to these changes, and we have to safeguard the people through proper planning.”
One vegetable trader, named Farooq Ali, had to deal with flood water in their homes. He says, “weather is now unpredictable and life comes to a standstill when rainfall lasts even for a few hours. It will take weeks to drain water out, without any support from the municipal government.”
An electronic trader named Ahmed Khan says, “we have no alternative but to shift our commodities to drier and safer places because the roads turned into rivers – and even vehicles were unable to go through the muddy water on the roads.” Most electronic shops have lost a lot of money due to the flooding damaging important items.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/jul/27/flash-floods-kill-over-300-in-pakistan-as-more-monsoon-rain-is-forecast
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/9/flooding-in-pakistan-kills-dozens-amid-heavy-monsoon-rains
The recent flash floods are caused by the monsoon (rainy season/phase) rain. Pakistan’s infrastructure isn’t the greatest for draining water, and the abnormal amount of water this year caused the huge flooding across major cities. In Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi, neighborhoods have been submerged in 3 feet of water. Pakistan’s government has since issued warnings of further extreme monsoon downpours in 14 other cities.
While seasonal monsoon rains usually cause death and property damage, it usually isn’t on this scale. The main factor is probably climate change, causing more water to build up in the atmosphere. Pakistan reports that this year’s rainfall during the monsoon season was 87% higher than past years.
In Karachi alone, 310 people have died and hundreds have been injured. Roads are nearly impassable which have caused many services and businesses to close. Since Saturday July 23rd, 15 people have died. Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said infrastructure, road networks, and 5,600 homes had been damaged.
Pakistan recently dealt with an extreme heatwave earlier in the year, which combined with the flash flooding, earned Pakistan its spot on the Global Climate Risk Index as one of the most vulnerable countries. The index records economic and human loss due to extreme weather. In total, Pakistan has an estimated 10,000 lives lost due to environmental disasters, as well as $4bn financial losses from 2008-2018.
One climate activist, Afia Salam, says, “climate is playing its part. We have shifting monsoon, we have heavier rainfalls, we have rain falling within a very short period of time which used to be spread-over, so these changing weather patterns are there. Karachi facing urban flooding is the sign of the times of unpredictable weather. We have not adapted to these changes, and we have to safeguard the people through proper planning.”
One vegetable trader, named Farooq Ali, had to deal with flood water in their homes. He says, “weather is now unpredictable and life comes to a standstill when rainfall lasts even for a few hours. It will take weeks to drain water out, without any support from the municipal government.”
An electronic trader named Ahmed Khan says, “we have no alternative but to shift our commodities to drier and safer places because the roads turned into rivers – and even vehicles were unable to go through the muddy water on the roads.” Most electronic shops have lost a lot of money due to the flooding damaging important items.
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/jul/27/flash-floods-kill-over-300-in-pakistan-as-more-monsoon-rain-is-forecast
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/9/flooding-in-pakistan-kills-dozens-amid-heavy-monsoon-rains