Floods kill 13, swamp streets in Karachi

KARACHI: At least 13 people have been killed by flooding in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, after heavy monsoon rains hit the sprawling metropolis overnight, officials said on Thursday.

The deaths were the latest in a disaster that has so far killed more that 1,200 people across the region encompassing India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Karachi's deluge came a day after India's financial centre, Mumbai, was hit with floods that killed 14 people.

Pakistan's military was delivering aid to the city where main streets were flooded, cars abandoned and hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes.

The private Edhi Foundation, which runs ambulances and medical centres, said it had confirmed 13 people dead and 350-400 houses inundated near the Lyari River.

Karachi's city administration requested army assistance, including water pumps, after the heavy overnight rains, the military said in a statement.

Countries in the region suffer frequent flooding during the June-September monsoon season, but international aid agencies say things are have been worse than normal this year.