Massive fire breaks out at garment factory warehouse in Karachi's SITE area

A massive fire broke out at a warehouse of a garments factory near Metroville in Karachi’s SITE area on Monday, prompting the deployment of fire and rescue teams, according to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

KMC Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan told the media that the fire was intense when firefighting teams arrived at the scene, adding that firefighting operations were underway with the assistance of a snorkel, and the corporation had deployed 11 fire tenders and two water bowsers to tackle the blaze.

"The warehouse contains cardboard, wood, thread, garments, foam, plastic and other combustible materials in the upper floors, making firefighting operations challenging. Our efforts are focused on bringing the fire under control as soon as possible, after which cooling operations will begin,” Khan said.

The chief fire officer also underscored that the fire was declared a "third-degree blaze" to mobilise all relevant departments, ensure their immediate attention and secure the resources required to deal with the emergency.

Khan stressed that parts of the building, along with its boundary wall, had become structurally unsafe due to the fire.

Meanwhile, fire brigade officials at the site told The Express Tribune that they were facing difficulties due to a "shortage of water".

They also revealed that firefighting operations were underway from both the exterior and interior of the building and so far the fire has engulfed the factory’s second and third floors.

Earlier in the afternoon at around 3pm, the Sindh Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the Central Command and Control Centre received information about the fire and immediately dispatched a fire and rescue team, along with a fire brigade truck and an ambulance, to the site.

"More than five fire tenders from Rescue 1122 and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Fire Brigade reached the scene to take part in the firefighting operation," the spokesperson had said.

According to fire brigade officials, two water bowsers from the KMC Fire Brigade dealt with the blaze, while a snorkel vehicle was dispatched as a precautionary measure in view of potential risks.

The fire broke out at the warehouse located on the upper floor of the factory at Plot No. A-14, officials said, adding that a fire had also broken out at the same location a few days earlier.

Further details about the cause of the fire, the extent of the damage and any possible casualties were not immediately available.

This is a developing story.