Flood victims receive aid in Sukkur, Pakistan.Authorities in flood-hithave breached the country’s largest freshwater lake, displacing up to 100,000 people from their homes but saving more densely populated areas from gathering flood water, a minister said.
Lake Manchar, which is used for water storage, had already reached dangerous levels and the increased pressure posed a threat to surrounding areas in southern Sindh province, said the region’s irrigation minister, Jam Khan Shoro. “By inflicting the breach we have tried to save Sehwan town. Water levels on Johi and Mehar towns in Dadu district would be reduced by this breach in the lake,” Shoro told Reuters.Some displaced by the floods have complained that shelters are crowded, while others are reluctant to leave their possessions.
The country has already received nearly three times the 30-year average rainfall in the quarter through August, totalling 390.7mm . Sindh province, with a population of 50 million, was hardest hit, getting 464% more rain than the 30-year average.