Heavy rains caused floods in southern Pakistan in early September 2011, including the provinces of Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh. Mud homes collapsed in the settlement of Kalat, and flood waters inundated thousands of acres of farmland, The Express Tribune reported. The Nation reported thousands of homes destroyed in southern Pakistan.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured these images on September 4, 2011 (top), and September 5, 2009 (bottom), showing parts of Balochistan and Sindh Provinces.
These images use a combination of infrared and visible light to increase contrast between water and land. Water varies in color from electric blue to navy. Vegetation is green and bare ground is pinkish brown. Clouds are pale blue-green and cast shadows.
The most obvious difference between these images is the standing water northwest of the Indus River in 2011. East of Kalat, the water rests on sparsely vegetated land. West of Guddu, the higher water rests inside an irrigation network connected to the Indus River. Water is also visibly higher in Lake Hamal.
The BBC reported that floods affected at least 5 million people across Pakistan, and many rice, cotton, and sugar cane crops had been lost. Meanwhile, Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh were expecting heavy rain to continue for at least a few more days, according to local news sources.
- BBC. (2011, September 6). Pakistan flood-hit districts declared “calamity area.” Accessed September 7, 2011.
- Daily Times. (2011, September 7). More rains to lash Sindh, Balochistan in next 3 days. Accessed September 7, 2011.
- The Express Tribune. (2011, September 6). Balochistan floods: 40 mud houses collapse in Kalat. Accessed September 7, 2011.
- The Nation. (2011, September 7). Rains ramp up destruction. Accessed September 7, 2011.
NASA images courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Michon Scott.
- Terra - MODIS