Death toll in Karachi building collapse hits 17

Karachi

The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Karachi’s Lyari area has risen to 17, Pakistani officials said on Saturday. Rescue teams have so far saved nine injured survivors, but at least 25 to 30 people are still feared trapped under the rubble.

The building, located in the crowded Baghdadi area of Lyari, collapsed early Friday morning. Among the dead are three women and a child. The tragic incident has caused widespread fear in Karachi, where many buildings have been declared unsafe.

Officials said the building was declared dangerous three years ago, but residents did not leave, and no strict action was taken. Each floor had three apartments and six families were living there.

Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Khoso confirmed that notices to vacate were issued in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In the district, there are 107 dangerous buildings, with 21 considered highly hazardous. Fourteen of these have been vacated so far.

The rescue operation has been ongoing for more than 24 hours and may continue for another eight to ten hours, officials said.

There are still 22 extremely dangerous buildings in Lyari, and 16 of them have already been evacuated. Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has urged residents of unsafe buildings to move out quickly to avoid future disasters.

Naqvi said authorities cannot force people to leave but promised to discuss the problem of illegal and unsafe constructions with the Sindh Building Control Authority soon.