Pakistan has issued a flood alert for some southern districts, warning of torrential rains, as rescue teams continued searching for missing people in the northwest, where severe floods have killed hundreds over the past week.

Pakistan declared a public holiday in Karachi on Wednesday as the financial capital braced for more rain, after the arrival of the annual monsoon season left at least 7 people dead and caused widespread flooding,

A deluge of rain triggered floods and landslides, sweeping people away and flooding and destroying homes, officials said.