KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department reported two additional deaths in Karachi over the past few days due to a severe heatwave, bringing the total number of heat-related fatalities since June to 51. The latest victims were admitted to Civil Hospital as temperatures in the city soared to dangerous levels.
Karachi has been suffering from an intense heatwave, exacerbating the hardships faced by residents due to prolonged and unannounced power outages, despite reassurances from the utility companies. On Wednesday, the city’s temperature peaked at a scorching 40.5°C, but the “feels like” temperature, influenced by humidity, air temperature, and wind speed, was a staggering 56°C.
The “feels like” temperature is a measure of the actual sensation of heat or cold experienced by individuals, considering various environmental factors. This metric is crucial for understanding how weather conditions impact human comfort and health.
Meteorologists explain that the perceived temperature can be significantly higher than the actual temperature due to these combined factors. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that Karachi’s current temperature stands at 37°C, with a “feels like” temperature of 54°C, driven by 64% humidity and a 24-kilometre-per-hour sea breeze.
The health department also noted that nearly 50 cases of heatstroke were reported in the last 24 hours. Residents are urged to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from the extreme heat.
