Cyclone Yemyin was one of the most deadly tropical cyclones that made landfall on India and Pakistan in June 2007. Throughout three countries, 983 people were killed: 730 in Pakistan, 140 in India and 113 in Afghanistan. In all, the storm wrought roughly $2.1 billion in damage in India and Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had warned of heavy rains and wind from the system as early as Friday June 22. The Pakistan Navy rescued 56 sailors from the merchant ships and 36 fishermen from the fishing boats after they were detected by the Breguet Atlantique aircraft. The heavy downpour also flooded the Kech Korandi riverine, inundating the city of Turbat and causing more than 10,000 people to evacuate their houses. Such extreme weather events are only going to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. The government should use such events as an example so that chaos is avoided and the people are better prepared in the face of natural disasters.
“Due to intense tropical Low/Depression moving from Bay of Bengal into central-western India, Karachiites were already facing acute hot and dry weather on Thursday, 21st June 2007 when it was 39°C but in the evening it turned dark and a dust/thunder shower gave the city some relief around 8 pm. However it was even hotter on next day i.e. Friday, 22nd June and high temperature was 42°C.”
A Karachi resident describing the weather a day before Cyclonic Storm Yemyinhit Pakistan – June 2007.