A five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood, claiming at least seven lives and injuring at least eight people, according to Edhi Foundation and Rescue 1122 officials on Friday.
All injured persons were shifted to the Trauma Centre at Dr Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, hospital sources confirmed. One person is in critical condition, while the others sustained minor injuries and are receiving treatment.
The Express Tribune reported that several people remain trapped under the rubble, though the exact number is unconfirmed.
Deputy Commissioner South stated that buildings adjacent to the collapse site are also being evacuated as a precaution.
The collapse occurred in the Baghdadi area of Lyari.
According to Edhi officials, five people, including three women, were injured, while the bodies of one woman and three men have been recovered from the debris.
A large crowd has gathered near the collapsed structure, prompting police to resort to baton charge to disperse them.
Rescue personnel said five people, including three woman, were initially pulled from the rubble with injuries.
Authorities fear more individuals may be trapped beneath the debris. A rescue operation is ongoing.
A large crowd has gathered near the collapsed structure, prompting police to resort to baton charge to disperse them.
Officials arriving at the site
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has taken the notice of the incident.
"Injured must be provided immediate medical assistance," says Sindh CM.
Murad Ali Shah has directed the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to urgently provide details of all decaying and unsafe buildings in Karachi.
"Negligence or carelessness will not be tolerated. Protecting human lives is our top priority," the chief minister said. He ordered immediate identification of dangerous structures and practical steps to ensure public safety.
Senior Sperintendent of Police (SSP) City Arif Aziz and Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi are present at the site.
Arif Aziz confirmed that the bodies of five individuals have been pulled from the debris so far.
Sindh Minister for Local Government, Saeed Ghani, ordered an immediate investigation into the collapse of a residential building in Karachi’s Lyari.
A high-level inquiry committee has been formed to determine the cause of the collapse in the Baghdadi neighbourhood, according to Zubair Memon, media consultant to Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani
The committee has been tasked with identifying officers responsible for negligence and is expected to submit its findings to the minister within three days.
Ghani also directed the suspension of relevant officials from the SBCA pending the outcome of the investigation.
The building in question had been declared dangerous since 25 years. Teams were sent several times to demolish the structure. However, they faced resistance during demolition efforts.
SBCA officialRescue 1122
Acting on the directives of Sindh’s Minister for Rehabilitation, Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, Acting Director General of Rescue 1122, Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, arrived at the site of the building collapse in Lyari and issued special instructions to oversee the operation.
According to Rescue 1122 preliminary report, emergency alert about the building collapse was received by the Central Command and Control Centre at 10:53 AM. An Urban Search and Rescue team, along with a disaster response vehicle, was immediately dispatched to the site.
Five disaster response vehicles, two snorkels, and multiple ambulances have been deployed at the site, rescue 1122 confirmed.
Coordination with relevant departments has also led to the dispatch of cranes and lifters to assist in debris removal.
All available Rescue 1122 personnel have been called to the scene, with over 100 staff members currently engaged in the operation to provide emergency aid and manage any crisis, officials said.
Operations will continue until the site is fully cleared, officials said.
PM Shehbaz expresses sorrow over loss of lives in building collapse in Lyari
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives caused by the collapse of a residential building in Karachi,
He offered prayers for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives and extended condolences to their families.
The Prime Minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed authorities to ensure the provision of all possible medical facilities to them.
He instructed that the rescue operation to recover those trapped under the debris be accelerated.
The Prime Minister further directed that a comprehensive strategy be formulated on a priority basis to prevent such incidents in the future.
This is a developing story, more details to follow...
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