Dubai: Tropical cyclone Phet battered Pakistan's Gwadar district overnight on Sunday as more than 40 villages were flooded and at least one woman died in the heavy downpour, Pakistani media reported.
Hundreds of mud houses collapsed and several people were displaced in most parts of coastal Pakistan as torrential rains hit Gwadar, Jivani and Pasni, the Daily Times reported.
More than 370mm rain was recorded in Gwadar, more than 202mm in Jiwani and 92mm in Pasni, the daily reported on its website.
According to reports, 80 per cent of Gwadar has been flooded while air and road links have been cut off with the rest of Pakistan. Heavy floods are also eroding the Makran Coastal Highway from Ormara to Jiwanri, with officials saying that the highway could remain closed for weeks.
The website quoted Pakistan's Navy Commander Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar as saying that Karachi will remain safe from Cyclone Phet which has lost its intensity to Category 2 and will further weaken to Category 1 when it will hit between Karachi and Pasni, with wind speed between 35 to 40 knots.
The Nation reported that the woman died and four others were wounded when the roofs of their houses collapsed in Malaband and Pushkan.
Sources said several boats were submerged after a dam burst in Jiwani while six villages were also flooded though no loss of life was reported.
Balochistan's Minister for Fishery told Geo News that people affected by the flash floods have been moved to safer areas.
