Heavy rainfall and flooding have hit the southern Pakistani metropolis of Karachi, killing 26 people and cutting off electricity.

A boy wades through flood waters outside his home in Karachi July 19, 2009. [RAkhtar Soomro /CCTV/EUTERS]

The country's chief meteorologist says nearly 15 centimeters of rain fell on Saturday.

The rain flooded low-lying parts of the city, damaging hundreds of homes, downing power lines and shutting down power grid stations.

Virtually all of the city was left without electricity on Saturday night, although power was gradually being restored.

Efforts were under way to restore traffic and electricity and to pump floodwaters out of streets and homes.

The city of more than 16 million people suffers from an outdated drainage system that leaves parts of the city vulnerable to flooding.

(CCTV July 20, 2009)