THATTA: Pakistan has ordered the evacuation of 300,000 people in a southern town after its flood-protection defences were breached.

"We have ordered people of Thatta city on Thursday night to move to safer places after floods breached an embankment at Faqir Jogoth village," top administration official, Manzoor Sheikh told AFP Friday.

He said that at least 70 percent of Thatta`s population of approximately 300,000 people had so far moved to safer areas.

He added that army engineers were trying to plug the breach, at a site a few kilometres (miles) east of Thatta.

"We hope that the (army) engineers will be able to repair the breach or otherwise floodwaters will inundate Thatta city," Sheikh said.

He said that the surrounding towns of Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro and Darro had already been evacuated.

The catastrophe unleashed by torrential monsoon rains has affected more than 17 million people in Pakistan and has left eight million dependent on aid for their survival.

The Pakistani government has confirmed 1,600 people dead and 2,366 wounded, but officials warn that millions are at risk from diseases and food shortages.

BDST: 11:10 HRS, August 27, 2010