• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home World

Flood-hit Pakistan breaches lake to avert overflow

4 September 2022, 6:16 PM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
A girl carries her sibling as she walks through stranded flood water, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Nowshera, Pakistan September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz

A girl carries her sibling as she walks through stranded flood water, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Nowshera, Pakistan September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz

Image: Reuters

A girl carries her sibling as she walks through stranded flood water, following rains and floods during the monsoon season in Nowshera, Pakistan September 4, 2022. REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz

Authorities in flood-hit Pakistan breached the country’s largest freshwater lake on Sunday, displacing up to 100,000 people from their homes but saving more densely populated areas from gathering flood water, a minister said.

Record monsoon rains and melting glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountains have brought floods that have affected 33 million people and killed at least 1,290, including 453 children. The inundation, blamed on climate change, is still spreading.

Manchar Lake, which is used for water storage, had already reached dangerous levels and the increased pressure posed a threat to surrounding areas in southern Sindh province, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said.

He said about 100,000 people would be affected by the breach but it would help save more populated clusters and also reduce water levels in other, harder-hit areas.

“By inflicting the breach we have tried to save Sehwan town. Water levels on Johi and Mehar towns in Dadu district would be reduced by this breach in the lake,” Shoro told Reuters.

It was not clear how many of the 100,000 asked to leave their homes would actually do so.

Some displaced by the floods have complained that shelters are crowded, while others are reluctant to leave their possessions.

Aside from historic rainfall, southern Pakistan has had to contend with increased flooding as a surge of water flowed down the Indus river.

The country has already received nearly three times the 30-year average rainfall in the quarter through August, totalling 390.7 millimetres (15.38 inches). Sindh province, with a population of 50 million, was hardest hit, getting 464% more rain than the 30-year average.

Being downstream on the Indus river, the southern parts of the country have witnessed swelling river waters flowing from the north. Pakistan’s limited dams and reservoirs are already overflowing and cannot be used to stop downstream flows.

Tarbela dam in the north-west, has been at capacity, 1,550 feet and 5.8 million acre feet, for weeks, according to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) data.

Downstream in Sindh, barrages are under pressure with the Indus river in high flood level, the NDMA said in its latest situation report.

Authorities also prepared for more rain in the north over the next few days up until Tuesday.

“Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted that weak monsoon currents from Arabian Sea are penetrating upper and central parts of the country which subsequently cause rain-wind / thundershowers,” the NDMA said in an advisory.

It cautioned local administrations to be on an enhanced state of alertness, and to restrict vehicle movement in areas prone to flash floods and landslides as well as those close to water channels.

It said some populations in the north could be at risk, and advised “timely evacuation”.

The overnight death toll from the floods increased by 25, of which 12 were children, according an NDMA update. The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said there was a risk of “many more” child deaths from disease after floods.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday appealed to UNICEF and other global agencies to help control child deaths.

“As Pakistan battles one of the worst climate-induced calamities, among the most adversely affected are children,” Sharif said on Twitter.

On Sunday, flights carrying aid from UNICEF, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates landed in Pakistan.

SA NGO Al-Imdaad Foundation to provide aid in Pakistan following floods: Qari Ziyaad Patel

Share article
Tags: FloodsPakistan
Previous Post

Tourism’s policy looks to stimulate local economy

Next Post

Bafana Bafana fails to qualify for next year’s AFCON

Related Posts

Five former Memphis police officers were charged on Thursday (January 26) with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died three days after a traffic stop, prosecutors said.

United States awaits release of Tyre Nichols’ video

27 January 2023, 9:11 PM
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

UN chief says social media, advertisers ‘complicit’ in fueling hate

27 January 2023, 8:46 PM
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor co-chairing the 15th South Africa–European Union Ministerial Political Dialogue with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, Mr. Josep Borrell.

EU pledges its support for South Africa’s transition to greener, cleaner energy

27 January 2023, 5:13 PM
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban attends a media briefing in Budapest, Hungary, December 21, 2022.

Hungary will veto EU sanctions on Russian on nuclear energy: PM Orban

27 January 2023, 10:12 AM
Advocate Mojankunyane Gumbi  is currently the Chancellor of the University of Venda

Venda University VC named UN special adviser on racism in workplace

26 January 2023, 10:16 PM
Missiles traces are seen in a sky, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Donbas region, Ukraine January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak

Russia unleashes missiles at Ukraine after Kyiv secures tanks

26 January 2023, 5:35 PM
Next Post
The score stood at South Africa 1-1 Angola at half-time. South Africa lost 4-1 to Angola in the final leg of the CHAN qualifiers at the Dobsonville Stadium.

Bafana Bafana fails to qualify for next year's AFCON

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Northern Cape’s Kakamas to be exempted from blackouts
  • Scorcher predicted in Northern Cape for two weeks
  • Chances of reaching Stage 8 blackouts are receding: Eskom
  • Residents shut down Komani over power woes
  • Eswatini human rights lawyer gunned down in the presence of his family
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Babes Wodumo breaks her silence at Mampintsha’s funeral
  • Diepsloot residents block N14 highway
  • LIVE: City of Joburg Council elects new mayor
  • Al Jamah’s Thapelo Amad touted to be Joburg’s new mayor
  • UPDATE: Thapelo Amad elected as new Mayor of Joburg
  • KZN farmer fined R1.5 million for unauthorised water use

LATEST

Eskom says stage 4 will be implemented in the evenings from 16:00pm until 05:00am over the weekend.
  • Business

Stage 3 load shedding kicks in from Saturday morning: Eskom  


Gauteng ANC chair Panyaza Lesufi
  • Politics

Removal of Phalatse will yield similar results in other municipalities: Lesufi


Mandela who advocated for reconciliation, died on this day at his home in Johannesburg at the age of 95.
  • South Africa

67 Blankets for Madiba campaign goes all out to celebrate 9th anniversary


FILE PHOTO: Institute of Political Studies (IEP) or "Sciences Po" main entrance at the Institute in Paris, France, May 28, 2013. Picture taken May 28, 2013. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo
  • Lifestyle

Top French university bans use of ChatGPT to prevent plagiarism


Five former Memphis police officers were charged on Thursday (January 26) with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died three days after a traffic stop, prosecutors said.
  • World

United States awaits release of Tyre Nichols’ video


Electricity pylons are seen along the cooling tower of the defunct Orlando Power Station in Soweto.
  • Business

More South Africans join calls for national state of disaster to address electricity crisis


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2022

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Tourism’s policy looks to stimulate local economy
Next Bafana Bafana fails to qualify for next year’s AFCON