KARACHI: Pakistan issued a danger warning Friday over Cyclone Phet, which may hit the coast packing winds of 120 kilometres an hour, as relief workers were on standby to evacuate residents forcibly if needed.
The cyclone has not dissipated to the extent we were earlier anticipating, which means it could be very dangerous when it hits Pakistan, Nadeem Ahmed, head of the National Disaster Management Agency, told a private news television.
All of our relief organisations are ready, our military, navy and other forces are ready to cope with any kind of situation in wake of Cyclone Phet.
We have to be ready for the worst as it seems Karachi could be in the centre of the impact and we can't rule out danger when the cyclone comes here on Sunday evening, he said.
Forecasters have warned the cyclone may uproot power and communication lines along the coast but previously believed there would be less impact on Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city, its financial capital and crucial sea port.
It is expected to approach Pakistan Saturday evening and landfall on Sunday with maximum winds of 100 to 120 kilometres (60 to 75 miles) per hour, said Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry, who heads Pakistan's meterological department.
Hospitals have been put on alert, medicine and equipment stockpiled, while tinned rations and clothes are being arranged, authorities said.
Relief authorities in southern province Sindh, of which Karachi is capital, say they have evacuated tens of thousands of people from coastal districts of Thatta and Badin but that many are refusing to leave.
So far we have evacuated tens of thousands of people from both the districts, Munir Memon, a relief commission official, told AFP.
Thousands more are refusing to abandon their homes, he added.
We have instructions from senior quarters to save people's lives and we'll do it forcibly if they continue to resist, he said.
The government has established relief camps in school buildings, put transport on emergency standby, and set up health units and control rooms ready to operate if necessary, he said.
Chaudhry said widespread rainfalls accompanied by strong gusty winds were likely in southwestern Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
Heavy rains may cause flash flooding in Balochistan and Sindh including Karachi, he added.
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