Evacuations continued in Sindh overnight as Cyclone Biparjoy crept closer to the province’s coastal belt on Tuesday.
An alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said the cyclone had moved further north-northwestward during the last six hours and had weakened into a “very severe cyclonic storm”.
The alert said that the cyclone now lay about 410km south of Karachi, 400km south of Thatta.
Key developments
- The latest alert says the cyclone is to make landfall between Keti Bunder, Indian Gujarat coast on June 15
- Sherry Rehman says 113mm of rain is expected in Karachi and urges the public to take advisories issued by authorities seriously “without panicking.”
- NDMA chief says 100,000 people in vulnerable areas to be evacuated by June 15
- 4 dead as India steps up evacuations
“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 maximum wave height [of] 30 feet. Favourable environmental conditions … are in support to sustain its strength through the forecast period,” the centre said.
It said that under the existing conditions, the cyclone was “most likely” to track further northward until the morning of June 14 (Wednesday), then recurve northeastward and cross between Keti Bandar and Indian Gujarat coast on the afternoon/evening of June 15 as a “very severe cyclonic storm” packing winds of 100-120km/hour.
The alert said that widespread wind-dust/thunderstorm rain with some very heavy/hefty falls accompanied by squally winds of 80-100km/hour gusting 120km/hour were likely in Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, Tharparker, Mirpurkhas and Umerkot between June 13-17.
Dust/thunderstorm-rain with few heavy falls and accompanied by squally winds of 60-80km/hour likely in Karachi, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allayar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts from June 14-16.
The alert said that a 3-3.5 metres high storm surge is expected at point of landfall, Keti Bunder, which would inundate low-lying settlements. The centre also advised fishermen to only venture out into the open sea once the system abated by June 17.
