October 22, 2015
Thousands of people killed by extreme weather in 2015 as El Nino arrives to bring more chaos
More than 1,000 people have died in the continuing heatwave in Pakistan
Lizzie Dearden
Saturday 27 June 2015 14:59 BST
Thousands of people have been killed by extreme weather so far this year and now scientists fear a weather event will cause droughts, wildfires, flooding, landslides and food shortages.
Australian scientists have warned of a “substantial” El Nino effect that started in May.
The phenomenon,which only happens every few years, is still in its early stages but has the potential to cause extreme weather around the world, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
More than 1,200 people have died in Pakistan of heatstroke and dehydration as temperatures soared far above 40C and power cuts crippled Karachi over the past week.
India is currently recovering from the second deadliest heatwave in the country's history, which had killed 2,500 people by the start of this month.
More than 1,200 people have now been killed in Pakistan’s heatwave as the deadly temperatures look set to continue.
Karachi, the county’s largest city, has also been hit by huge power cuts leaving more than 20 million people struggling to cool their homes.
Officials said about 40,000 people have suffered heatstroke since Saturday and the number was expected to rise.
It is the worst heatwave in Karachi for more than 35 years, seeing morgues run out of space for bodies and emergency clinics set up in the streets.
