Cyclone Biparjoy has continued to rage towards Karachi, with its distance from the coastal city reduced to some 470 kilometres, on Tuesday.
According to a advisory by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the cyclone is currently at the north-northwestward and has turned into a "very severe cyclonic storm."
"Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160km/hour, gusts 180km/hour around the system centre and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system centre with a maximum wave height [of] 30 feet.
"[The current] conditions are in support to sustain its strength through the forecast period," the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre of the department said.
Heavy rainfall
The advisory said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with very heavy/extremely heavy falls and squally winds of 80-100km/hour at 120km/hour was likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Thar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot between June 13-17.
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few downpour and accompanied with squally winds of 60-80km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar from June 14-16.
A storm surge of 3-3.5 metres high is expected at the point of landfall, Keti Bunder, which would inundate the low-lying settlements. The PMD urged fishermen to avoid going to open sea till the system weakens.
Evacuations
Addressing a presser, Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said that even if the cyclone did not hit country's coastline, it would most likely cause high-velocity winds and rains, thus causing damage.
She added that rain of 113mm was expected in Karachi while bringing a 300mm of downpour in Thatta.
"Mandatory evacuations have thus begun in vulnerable areas, especially in Keti Bandar, because saving human lives is most important for us," the minister maintained.
This means that people in these areas need to be evacuated forthwith, adding, "There's no other option."
Rehman also said that Keti Bandar has been fully evacuated while Sujawal stands partially evacuated as she stressed the need for timely actions.
According to a advisory by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the cyclone is currently at the north-northwestward and has turned into a "very severe cyclonic storm."
"Maximum sustained surface winds are 150-160km/hour, gusts 180km/hour around the system centre and sea conditions being phenomenal around the system centre with a maximum wave height [of] 30 feet.
"[The current] conditions are in support to sustain its strength through the forecast period," the Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre of the department said.
Heavy rainfall
The advisory said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with very heavy/extremely heavy falls and squally winds of 80-100km/hour at 120km/hour was likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Thar, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot between June 13-17.
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few downpour and accompanied with squally winds of 60-80km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar from June 14-16.
A storm surge of 3-3.5 metres high is expected at the point of landfall, Keti Bunder, which would inundate the low-lying settlements. The PMD urged fishermen to avoid going to open sea till the system weakens.
Evacuations
Addressing a presser, Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said that even if the cyclone did not hit country's coastline, it would most likely cause high-velocity winds and rains, thus causing damage.
She added that rain of 113mm was expected in Karachi while bringing a 300mm of downpour in Thatta.
"Mandatory evacuations have thus begun in vulnerable areas, especially in Keti Bandar, because saving human lives is most important for us," the minister maintained.
This means that people in these areas need to be evacuated forthwith, adding, "There's no other option."
Rehman also said that Keti Bandar has been fully evacuated while Sujawal stands partially evacuated as she stressed the need for timely actions.