KARACHI, Pakistan – A four-day long heatwave in Pakistan has killed around 600 people according to officials.

Though the death toll is officially at 450, with most killed in the populous southern port city of Karachi, the chief minister of the wider Sindh province said on Tuesday that hundreds of others have died elsewhere in the southern province.

“Over 200 people have also died in interior parts of Sindh due to severe heat,” Syed Qaim Ali Shah told reporters.

With rain clouds hovering over Karachi expected to bring rain that will break the heat, the temperature remains at 41 degrees Celsius (106 Fahrenheit), accompanied by high humidity.

The provincial government has also announced a public holiday in government offices on Tuesday to reduce electricity consumption and shorten power cuts that have lasted as long as 12 hours at a time.

An estimated 400 people have died during the last four days in Karachi, the country’s commercial capital, where a blistering heat wave compounded by long power cuts wreaked havoc in daily life.

At Jinnah hospital, the largest government-run medical center in the city, 200 patients died in the last three days while 1,500 were being treated for heat related illnesses, Dr. Seemi Jamali, the head of the hospital’s emergency services, told reporters on Monday.

“We don’t have space for more patients and many heatstroke patients are being treated in other wards,” Dr. Jamali said.

The University of Karachi and other educational institutions in the city postponed their scheduled exams because of the stifling heat wave.

Also, over 1,000 children suffering from dehydration and gastro-related diseases were admitted to different hospitals in northeastern Lahore city within the last three days; of them over 450 were said to be in critical condition, local Geo Television reported.

Thousands of people also took to the streets Monday across the country to protest against power cuts that have caused acute water paucity in many cities. Pakistan’s Water and Power Ministry cites an increasing demand in the holy month of Ramadan as the prime reason behind the power cuts.

The lack of electricity has also caused water pumps to fail, leading to water shortages in parts of Karachi.

Originally posted by LordMombi

It's unfortunate they're forced to wear so much clothes, even in that heat

Originally posted by LordMombi

It's unfortunate they're forced to wear so much clothes, even in that heat

Originally posted by Embustera

Clothing is one of the most effective forms of sun protection.

Originally posted by Embustera

you sound like an idiot tbh.

R.I.P. to the victims.

Originally posted by YouDaIcon

Is it really the smartest thing to be covered from head to toe (often in all black) when its 106 degrees outside? Correct me if I'm wrong. It would be safer to wear less clothing, correct?

Originally posted by RihannasVeryOwn

They aren't forced to wear anything shut up