At least 18 killed as heavy rain, strong winds batter Pakistan’s Karachi

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least 18 people were killed overnight as heavy rain and strong winds swept through Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, rescue officials said Thursday.

Thirteen of the victims were drug addicts who had been sitting beside a dilapidated wall on an empty plot when it collapsed in the Landhi area, Rescue 1122 said.

A couple was also killed in a separate wall collapse in Landhi, while another person died after being struck by lightning near the Malir district.

The youngest victim was 4-year-old Zeenat Zubair, who died when the roof of her home collapsed in Pirano Goth, a settlement in Bhains Colony.

The rain began around 9 pm (1600 GMT), affecting all seven districts of the city. Karachi’s fragile infrastructure means even brief downpours can trigger deadly incidents.

Several of the worst-affected areas were low-income and densely populated neighborhoods, including Landhi, an industrial district in eastern Karachi, and Malir, a sprawling suburban area on the city’s outskirts.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said a westerly wave continues to affect much of the country, bringing rain, thunderstorms, strong winds and isolated hailstorms to parts of Sindh province, including Karachi, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin.

More rainfall with occasional heavy downpours is expected in the coming days, the department said, warning of possible lightning strikes. Farmers were advised to manage crops according to prevailing weather conditions.