So far, 12 injured individuals have been pulled from debris while it is feared that 25 to 30 more people may still be trapped under rubble
KARACHI: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point New-July 5th, 2025) A tragic incident unfolded on Friday morning in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, where a five-storey residential building collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including seven women and one child.
The rescue teams rushed to the scene immediately after the incident and began emergency operations. So far, 12 injured individuals have been pulled from the debris while it is feared that 25 to 30 more people may still be trapped under the rubble.
Due to the absence of mobile signals in the area, rescue efforts have been significantly hampered. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris.
According to the officials, six families were residing in the collapsed building, with three residential units on each floor. Notably, the building had been declared unsafe three years ago, yet the residents did not vacate, nor did the authorities take any preventive action.
The authorities have also evacuated two adjacent buildings — one two-storey and one seven-storey — as a safety measure. Electricity and gas connections to the collapsed structure have been disconnected to prevent any further accidents.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi stated that the rescue operation could take up to 24 hours to complete. He urged residents of dilapidated buildings to relocate voluntarily, noting, “We cannot force anyone out of their homes.”
He also announced plans to hold a meeting with the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) regarding illegal constructions in the city.
South Karachi Deputy Commissioner Javed Khoso revealed that residents of the affected building had been issued notices in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
He added that out of 107 structurally weak buildings identified in the district, 21 were marked as extremely dangerous, and 14 of them have been evacuated so far. "It is too early to hold anyone accountable for the Lyari incident," he remarked.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the serious consequences of poor construction practices and administrative negligence in Karachi. The rescue operations are expected to continue late into the night.
