The Floods in Pakistan, Relatively Speaking

Weeks of relentless rain and heavy winds have caused some of the worst flooding in Pakistan in history. Crops are destroyed, sectors of the country's infrastructure and industry are crippled and, according to a New York Times report Wednesday morning, at least 800,000 Pakistani residents are stranded and accessible only by air.

More than 17 million Pakistanis have been affected by the flooding, and national news organizations have posited that the floods are, perhaps, the worst ever to affect the Southeast Asian country.

To put those superlatives in perspective, the BBC created an interactive graphic that overlays the extent of the flooding onto maps of local zip codes, including Scotch Plains and Fanwood. It is the latest creation in the BBC's "Dimensions" project.

A number of charity organizations are coordinating donations and relief efforts for Pakistan, including the Red Cross and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. To learn more, click here or speak with your local community service or religious organization.

West Orange Patch editor Joshua Wilwohl contributed reporting.