KARACHI: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh on Saturday evacuated up to 8,000 people from the coastal areas and islands of Karachi and shifted them to relief camps. Residents were evacuated from Shams Pir, Baba Bhit, Rehri Goth Bin Qasim Town, extreme low-lying areas of Keamari town, and low-lying areas of Zia-ul-Haq Colony along the Lyari River. PDMA Sindh Director-General, Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui told The News that till Saturday around 14,000 people in Thatta had been evacuated to the PDMA relief centres, while up to 5,000 people in Badin had been evacuated to safer places. “Evacuation operations in the endangered areas of the three coastal districts are fully on,” he said. “Although there is no need of immediate evacuation from DHA and Clifton areas near the beach, the residents should observe extreme safety measures. They must avoid getting close to the shore; keep a safe distance from electricity poles, debris and dangling structures of houses and apartments.” He said that the administrations of Saddar Town, Clifton Cantonment Board, and DHA were ready to disseminate announcements for evacuation from DHA and Clifton localities if any disastrous situation arose at Karachi’s coastline. He added that the City District Government, along with the District Disaster Management Authority, other civic agencies, cantonment boards, and DHA, had been extending support and making arrangements for coping with any emergency situation in view of the looming cyclonic storm.