Almost 700 people have perished in a devastating three-day heat wave in Pakistan, according to officials. Temperatures soared to around 113 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, with the country declaring a state of emergency in hospitals Tuesday.

Although Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is calling for emergency measures, his government’s slow handling of the crisis has prompted protests and intense criticism.

BBC News reports:

The army is now being deployed to help set up heat stroke centres, with temperatures reaching 45C (113F).

Officials have been criticized for not doing enough to tackle the crisis.

There is anger among local residents at the authorities because power cuts have restricted the use of air-conditioning units and fans, correspondents say.

Matters have been made worse by the widespread abstention from water during daylight hours during the fasting month of Ramadan.

On Tuesday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Mr Sharif to take immediate action to tackle the crisis.

This came as Sindh province Health Secretary Saeed Mangnejo said 612 people had died in the main government-run hospitals in the city of Karachi during the past four days. Another 80 are reported to have died in private hospitals.

Many of the victims are elderly people from low-income families.

Thousands more people are being treated, and some of them are in serious condition.

The article can be read in full here.

–Posted by Roisin Davis