KARACHI - Emergency has been declared in the coastal areas of Karachi after the metrological department issued a cyclone alert. Evacuation has already started in some coastal areas that were inundated by surging sea water.
Section 144, an emergency law, has also been imposed at all beaches of the city and authorities have warned fishermen against going into deep sea while rescuers are making efforts to rescue those already stuck in bad weather.
Various coastal areas including Manora, Mubarak Village, Ibrahim Hyadri and other areas have been raided by sea water and people of these and other areas, like Rehri Goth, threatened by tropical cyclone TC 02A (Nanauk) are evacuating.
Sindh Governor Isharatul Ebad has directed all the concern authorities to take all possible precautionary measure and get ready to handle any kind of emergency due to the cyclone. He told the Met Department to constantly update the public about the cyclone threat.
Sindh Home Department has imposed the emergency at the coastal areas for seven days at the request of Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, who said that the emergency law has been invoked for the safty of the citizens. He urged people to avoid swimming in sea, and going for picnicking and recreation at beaches. He directed life guards to assure their presence at all beaches of the city.
Though Met Office has ruled out any serious threat to Pakistani coastal areas from the cyclone, isolated rain and thundershowers are expected along Sindh and Mekran coastal belt on Friday or Saturday. It said, the sea conditions along Pakistan coast may be rough to very rough from Friday evening to Sunday night, advising Sindh and Balochistan fishermen against venturing in open sea during this period.
“The cyclone is located at Lat. 18°N and Long. 64°E, about 680 Km south-southwest of Karachi, and is likely to move further west-northwest ward (towards Oman Coast) with a speed of 10 km/hr.“ the Met Officer reported. The TC 02A is likely to further intensify into a Severe Tropical Cyclone in next 24 hours with a maximum sustained wind speed of 50-60 knots gusting up to 80 knots. After 48 hours, the cyclone may start weakening and there is high probability of its dissipation over the water (near Oman Coast) before making landfall.