- Title: PAKISTAN: Thousands flee rising floodwaters in Sindh Province
- Date: 28th August 2010
- Summary: SUJAWAL, THATTA DISTRICT, SINDH PROVINCE, PAKISTAN (AUGUST 27, 2010) (REUTERS) LIVESTOCK SEMI-SUBMERGED IN WATER TRAFFIC, PEOPLE LEADING THEIR LIVESTOCK TO SAFETY HALF-FLOODED MOSQUE SUBMERGED HOUSE
- Embargoed: 12th September 2010 00:09
- Keywords:
- Location: Pakistan
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAEDBJ4XJIXXZHWPACUOJ6L4JL9
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Thousands of people fled on Friday (August 27) from the southern Pakistani town of Thatta after the swollen Indus river burst its banks and authorities ordered an evacuation.
Fresh flooding has sent a million people fleeing from their homes in the south in the past 48 hours, the United Nations said.
The death toll from the floods, triggered by unusually heavy monsoon downpours over the upper Indus basin a month ago, was expected to rise significantly as more bodies were found while many people were missing, a disaster authority spokeswoman said.
Floodwaters are beginning to recede across most of the country as the water flows downstream, but high tides in the Arabian Sea meant they still posed a threat to towns in Sindh province such as Thatta, 70 km (45 miles) east of Karachi.
A stream of buses, cars, trucks and carts streamed out of various towns in Thatta district, heading for higher ground.
Ataullah Memon is a resident of Sujawal in Thatta district.
"We are in difficulty because our villages have been destroyed. We are now moving to somewhere with God's will. We are going to see how our brothers are doing. May God protect us," he said.
Many people from outlying areas had taken refuge in Thatta, which normally has a population of about 300,000. Now they were on the move again.
Khursheed Ahmed, a resident of Sujawal, said he was looking for his children.
"I have young children. I am going to find them. They fled earlier. I will now find out where they are and whether they have eaten something or not," he said.
The floods have deepened anger against the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, which was already perceived as ineffective and corrupt, prompting fears of social unrest. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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