Floods kill 18 in Karachi as heavy rains hit Pakistan’s southern region

At least 18 people have died after floodwaters swept through the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi following heavy rainfall.

Authorities said the rains began at around 9:00 p.m. local time (16:00 GMT), with rescue operations ongoing.

According to Anadolu Agency, 13 victims in the Landhi area - many of them reportedly drug users - were killed when a dilapidated wall collapsed on an empty plot. A couple also died in a separate wall collapse in the same area.

The report added that one person was struck by lightning near the Malir district, while a four-year-old girl, the youngest victim, died after the roof of her home caved in.

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Some of the hardest-hit areas were low-income, densely populated neighbourhoods.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of more rainfall and possible lightning strikes in the coming days.

The flooding comes amid heightened regional tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since late February, cross-border clashes between the two countries have killed at least 107 people.

A ceasefire agreement was later reached following mediation efforts by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Pakistan has also said it will pause military operations in Afghanistan during the Muslim holiday of Eid, from midnight on Wednesday until 23 March.

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