Southeast Asia hit by heavy rains by Sean Batty
Heavy rain and strong winds have been causing chaos across many parts of southeast Asia during the weekend. The weather has caused lots of structural damage and claimed the lives of hundreds in Pakistan and India.
The streets of Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city were littered with fallen signs and trees on Monday as the authorities struggled to clean up, as well as restore electricity to thousands. Around 200 people were killed in the city as power cables came down in flooded streets and many buildings collapsed.
In neighbouring India the authorities prepared to evacuate tens of thousands of people as the death toll topped 150 since the beginning of the rainy season, which starts in early June.
Since Friday thunderstorms have left many rivers overflowing and the floodwaters have inundated surrounding villages, leaving thousands without basic services. Hundreds of miles of rail tracks and roads were under water in the worst hit state of Andhra Pradesh. The recent flooding here has killed 38 people.
Indian weather officials forecast more heavy rain on the east and west coast, with a storm in the Bay of Bengal forecast to hit Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday morning.
|
|
