A devastating gas explosion tore through a Karachi apartment building during Ramadan preparations, claiming 16 lives including women and children. The blast caused part of the structure to collapse, with rescue teams continuing to search through debris for possible survivors.
KARACHI, Pakistan — At least 16 people lost their lives Thursday morning when a devastating gas explosion tore through an apartment complex in Karachi, Pakistan’s major port city, causing a partial building collapse that trapped victims under debris, according to police and emergency response teams.
The deadly blast occurred as residents were cooking their pre-dawn meal to mark the beginning of Ramadan in a neighborhood within Karachi, located in Sindh province, local police commander Rizwan Patel reported. Emergency crews continued digging through the wreckage searching for anyone who might still be alive beneath the collapsed sections, Patel explained.
Officials initially confirmed 13 fatalities, but Patel announced the count climbed to 16 after rescue workers recovered three additional bodies from the destruction.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement expressing grief and offering sympathy to bereaved families while ordering officials to provide top-quality medical care for those wounded. He also demanded rapid completion of search and rescue efforts and pressed the Sindh provincial leadership to strengthen construction regulations, improve gas cylinder safety measures, and launch a comprehensive investigation to prevent future tragedies.
Throughout Karachi and other Pakistani cities, residential buildings typically receive natural gas service for cooking purposes. Many families supplement this with liquefied petroleum gas tanks due to inadequate natural gas pressure in their neighborhoods.
A similar tragedy struck Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad this past July, when a gas explosion at a wedding celebration claimed eight lives, including the newlywed couple. Officials reported the deadly blast happened while wedding guests had come together to honor the bride and groom.