KARACHI – The death toll in the Lyari building collapse has reached nine, as rescue workers recovered two more bodies from the rubble in Karachi’s Baghdadi area. The six-storey residential structure came crashing down, triggering a major emergency response.
Rescue officials confirmed that nine injured people, including five women, have been pulled out alive and are receiving treatment. According to Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, approximately 25 people are still believed to be trapped under the debris, and intensive search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Immediately after the incident, emergency teams rushed to the scene, rescuing several victims and shifting them to nearby hospitals. Chhipa Welfare initially reported seven casualties and estimated 20–25 people trapped.
Rescue teams also noted that a nearby building sustained structural damage from the collapse, further raising safety concerns in the area.
SBCA’s Prior Warnings
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) stated that the collapsed building had previously been declared dangerous, and residents were repeatedly issued notices to vacate. However, locals disputed this claim, asserting they were never officially informed.
SBCA also revealed that 578 unsafe buildings still stand across Karachi, with the highest concentration in District South.
Government Response
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed serious concern and directed authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured, emphasizing that negligence will not be tolerated.
A high-level inquiry committee has been formed by the Sindh Local Government Department to probe the incident. The committee is expected to submit findings within three days, identifying those responsible. Additionally, relevant SBCA officials have been suspended with immediate effect.
Related Incident
Just days earlier, another six-storey building in Karachi’s Kharadar area suffered a partial collapse due to the failure of a rooftop water tank structure. Fortunately, no lives were lost, and trapped residents were safely evacuated using snorkels and cranes.
These repeated incidents have raised alarms about the prevalence of unsafe buildings in the city and the need for urgent enforcement and urban infrastructure reform.
