KARACHI: The death toll from the tragic collapse of a five-storey residential building in Karachi’s Lyari area has reached 17, including seven women and a child, as rescue operations remain ongoing to locate survivors feared trapped under the rubble.
The incident occurred on Friday in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, bringing down the entire structure and causing damage to adjacent buildings. Rescue teams have so far pulled out 10 survivors from the debris.
Emergency response teams—including Rescue 1122, police, and Rangers—reached the scene promptly and launched relief efforts. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the rubble and aid search operations.
Among the bodies transferred to Civil Hospital were 55-year-old Hoor Bibi, 35-year-old Waseem, 21-year-old Prantik son of Harsey, and 28-year-old Prem son of unknown. Fatima, wife of Babu, succumbed to injuries, during treatment at Civil Hospital. The bodies of a 25-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man, and a 7-year-old child remain unidentified.
Sources confirm that 14 bodies were recovered by late Friday night, while three more were pulled from the debris on Saturday. With each recovered body, grief and anxiety have deepened among local residents, many of whom remain at the site in search of their missing loved ones.
The operation in-charge from Rescue 1122 Sindh reported that around 70% of the rescue work has been completed. However, he warned that it may take several more hours to finish, and there is a strong possibility that more individuals remain trapped.
Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi, confirmed that the rescue operation could take an additional 7 to 8 hours. He stated that relief efforts have been further accelerated to maximize the chances of saving lives.
“The building had been declared dangerous three years ago, and a formal notice was issued just one and a half months ago,” the DC revealed.
He also disclosed that 22 extremely hazardous buildings still exist in Lyari, while 16 such buildings have already been vacated. Action is underway to evacuate the remaining structures.
“Operations will be carried out against all unsafe buildings, especially in the Old City area,” Nabi said. “We are also inspecting other aging structures throughout the city and working on a comprehensive strategy to prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
Read more: Over 13 Die, Dozens Trapped As Multi-storey Building Collapses In Karachi
