Death toll rises to eight as residential building collapses in Karachi's Lyari

A five-storey residential building collapsed in the Baghdadi area of Lyari on Friday, leaving at least eight people dead and several others injured.

The tragic incident has prompted a large-scale rescue operation and an urgent government response amid fears that more individuals may be trapped under the debris.

According to the Edhi Foundation and Rescue 1122 officials, five people — including three women — were pulled out alive with injuries, while the bodies of one woman and three men were recovered from the rubble.

Hospital authorities later confirmed that one of the injured, who had been in critical condition, succumbed to his wounds at the Trauma Centre of Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. The remaining injured are under treatment for minor injuries.

The collapse drew a large crowd to the scene, forcing police to use baton charge to disperse onlookers and secure the area. Rescue teams from Edhi, Chhipa, and Rescue 1122 rushed to the site following an alert received at 10:53 am.

Urban search and rescue teams, supported by five disaster response vehicles, two snorkels, ambulances, lifters, and cranes, have been deployed. Over 100 personnel are currently engaged in the operation, which officials say will continue until the site is fully cleared.

Negligence will not be tolerated, CM Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took immediate notice of the incident, directing that the injured be provided with urgent medical assistance. He ordered the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to present a detailed list 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, while ordering the immediate identification of dangerous structures and the implementation of practical steps to ensure public safety.

Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani has ordered a high-level investigation into the collapse. A fact-finding committee, led by his media consultant Zubair Memon, has been formed to determine the cause of the collapse and identify officials responsible for negligence.

The committee has been directed to submit its findings within three days. Pending the outcome of the investigation, relevant SBCA officials have been suspended.

Senior officials, including SSP City Arif Aziz and Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi, were present at the site and confirmed ongoing search operations. Buildings adjacent to the collapse site are also being evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the victims’ families. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed that the rescue efforts be expedited.

The premier also instructed authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to those wounded. Stressing the need for preventative action, he called for the formulation of a comprehensive strategy to avoid such tragedies in the future.

Sindh’s Minister for Rehabilitation, Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, tasked Acting Director General of Rescue 1122, Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, to oversee the rescue operation on the ground. Rescue 1122 confirmed full coordination with relevant departments, including the mobilisation of heavy machinery for debris removal.

Throughout the day, officials reiterated that operations would continue until the site was completely cleared. The tragic collapse has once again raised serious concerns over building safety in the city, especially in densely populated and historically under-regulated areas like Lyari.

This is a developing story, more details to follow...