Karachi mayor’s office affected as fire breaks out at KMC building

The office of the Karachi Mayor, Murtaza Wahab, was affected after a fire broke out in the kitchen on the first floor adjacent to the mayor's office at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) head office on MA Jinnah Road on Tuesday, the KMC spokesperson said.

The KMC fire brigade reached the building after receiving information about the incident and brought the fire under control, fire brigade officials said.

Fire brigade officials said no loss of life was reported. Two fire tenders were dispatched to control the blaze, they added.

The Karachi mayor reached the KMC head office after a fire damaged his office and inspected the affected area, while receiving a briefing from the municipal commissioner about the incident.

Speaking to the media, the mayor said the fire had broken out suddenly and that an investigation was underway to determine whether it had been started by someone or occurred on its own.

“My room has been burned, but the chamber remained safe,” the mayor said, adding that timely action had contained the fire within his room. He further added that no files were kept in his room and that any files requiring his signature were signed and sent to the relevant department.

“No records were burned in my room,” the mayor said, adding that the furniture, walls and doors of the room had been burned. The mayor said the fire had started in the air conditioner in his office and that it was being examined further.

“Whatever report comes out will be shared with the media,” he said.

Read: EPZ factory of used clothing gutted in fire

The incident comes a day after a fire that broke out at a factory in the Landhi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) intensified and spread to another nearby factory. All employees of the factory were safely evacuated.

The factory contained a large stock of second-hand clothing. Two fire tenders initially reached the scene. However, due to the intensity of the blaze, additional fire tenders and a snorkel were called in. Fire brigade personnel continued efforts to control the fire with 18 fire tenders and two snorkels.

During the rescue operation, part of the factory collapsed, while rescue officials declared the entire building unsafe.

Despite several hours of firefighting, the blaze could not be completely brought under control. Fire brigade officials said they had managed to prevent the fire from spreading further and had brought around 50 per cent of the fire under control.