Pakistan ordered businesses, schools and public offices in Karachi to shut on Wednesday after torrential monsoon rain left at least 10 people dead in the densely populated port city, with more heavy downpours predicted.

At least 21 people have died in monsoon rain-related incidents in Pakistan, authorities said, pushing the nationwide death toll over the last week above 400 as floods and landslides continue to devastate large parts of the country.

Officials say rescuers have recovered dozens more bodies from the rubble of collapsed homes in a northwestern district of Pakistan, bringing the death toll to at least 274, as authorities defended their response to the flooding and said they did not need any foreign help at this point.