As temperatures rose in southern Pakistan, so did the death toll. The Edhi ambulance service, which usually transports around 30 to 40 bodies daily to Karachi's city morgue, reported collecting 568 bodies over the past six days, with 141 on Tuesday alone. While the exact cause of death for each case is still unclear, the spike in deaths coincided with Karachi's temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) and high humidity making it feel like 49°C.

Hospitals have been inundated with patients seeking relief from the heat. Dr. Imran Sarwar Sheikh, head of the emergency department at Civil Hospital Karachi, reported that 267 people were admitted with heatstroke between Sunday and Wednesday, and 12 of them died. Most patients were in their 60s or 70s, although some were younger, even in their 20s. Symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, and high fever, with many patients having worked outside. Dr. Sheikh advised people to stay hydrated and wear light clothing.

The high temperatures, labeled a “partial heatwave” by a meteorologist, began over the weekend. Heatwave centers and camps were set up to provide relief, and images showed children playing in fountains to cool off. However, not everyone made it to the hospital. Wasim Ahmed, a 56-year-old security guard, collapsed and died after finishing a 12-hour shift outside. His cousin, Adnan Zafar, said Wasim had an existing heart condition but had never suffered in the heat before.

Karachi's situation is exacerbated by regular power cuts, which shut off fans and air conditioning. Muhammad Amin, in his 40s, fell ill and died during one such power cut, with his family suspecting heat as the cause. Emergency services found almost 30 bodies on the city’s streets, many suspected to be drug addicts with no signs of injury.

The heatwave in Karachi is part of a broader regional crisis. Last month, Sindh province recorded a near-record temperature of 52.2°C. Neighboring India has also experienced extreme heat, with Delhi enduring temperatures over 40°C since May, peaking near 50°C. Doctors in Delhi reported unprecedented conditions.

Karachi resident Mohammad Zeshan attributed the extreme weather to climate change, criticizing the government for not taking effective measures. Experts agree that climate change is causing more frequent and intense weather events. The heatwave in Karachi is expected to continue into next week, though with slightly lower temperatures. Weather experts are now looking ahead to an early monsoon season, which is expected to bring up to 60% more rain.