A five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Lyari area on Friday, killing at least six people and injuring seven. The incident occurred on Fida Hussain Shaikha Road, where rescue teams, including Pakistan Rangers and Rescue 1122, worked to save trapped victims. Rescue efforts were delayed due to narrow streets and large crowds. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed that eight people had been pulled out alive. Conflicting reports claim the death toll could be as high as eight.
Authorities revealed that the building had been declared dangerous in 2022. Despite several notices, residents refused to vacate. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) said it had issued multiple warnings and requested utility disconnections. However, services remained connected, and no timely action was taken by district officials. The ongoing monsoon season worsened the risk. Karachi has 588 buildings marked unsafe, including over 100 in Lyari alone.
Eyewitnesses described tragic moments. One man said his wife narrowly escaped after noticing cracks. Another man lost all his family members who were inside the building. Residents expressed their helplessness, watching rescue teams dig through the rubble. Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani said the structure was built in 1974 and blamed the incident on illegal constructions and weak enforcement. He announced a high-level probe into the collapse.
Top officials, including the Sindh chief minister, governor, and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, visited the site and offered condolences. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari also ordered relief efforts and called for preventive measures. They stressed the need for a long-term strategy to avoid such disasters. Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 said mobile network issues and chaotic crowds made operations harder.
Building collapses are common in Karachi due to poor construction, ageing buildings, and ignored warnings. Past incidents have claimed dozens of lives. Officials are now urging residents of risky structures to evacuate immediately. The government has promised support and is under pressure to take strict actions against those responsible for this tragedy.