Seven people were rescued while four remain missing after a merchant vessel struck a fishing boat off Karachi’s Manora Beach on Friday morning. The collision occurred at about 2am in a channel of the Karachi Port Trust, authorities said. Rescue teams from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, HPO, and local fishermen immediately responded to the incident.
The fishing boat, named Al-Shahbaz, capsized after all passengers jumped into the sea. DIG South Syed Asad Raza confirmed that seven individuals were rescued by another fishing boat and taken to the hospital via Edhi ambulance. Search operations for the four missing fishermen are ongoing, with authorities using all available resources.
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Edhi Information Centre confirmed that six people had been recovered alive with their marine rescue team. The ongoing operation aims to locate the remaining missing persons amid challenging conditions in the sea. Authorities warned that the search might take several hours, as the area is difficult to access.
This is not the first such incident near Karachi. Last week, a boat carrying eight people capsized near Keti Bandar, leaving one dead and another missing. In September, another fishing boat capsized near Port Qasim due to strong winds, resulting in one death and three rescues.
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Officials urged fishermen to exercise caution in rough seas and follow safety protocols. Authorities said they are investigating the incident to determine how the collision occurred. Meanwhile, the search and rescue teams continue their efforts to locate the missing individuals and ensure safety in the area.