At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and 13 others injured after a five-storey residential building collapsed in the Lyari area of Karachi, Pakistan, on Friday morning. Rescue operations entered their second day on Saturday as emergency teams worked tirelessly to search for survivors buried under the debris.
The building, located in one of Karachi’s most impoverished and densely populated neighbourhoods, came crashing down shortly after 10:00 am, trapping dozens of residents inside. Lyari, once infamous for gang violence, is home to many low-income families living in precarious structures.
According to rescue official Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh, who is leading the government’s 1122 emergency response team, the operation has continued without pause since the collapse. “It may take another eight to 12 hours to complete,” he told AFP at the scene.
Police confirmed that approximately 100 people were living in the building at the time of the collapse. “Half of the 14 deceased are women,” said police officer Summiaya Syed, adding that bodies were still being recovered and brought to hospitals in Karachi.
Among the victims feared trapped are the six family members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari, who left for work just hours before the tragedy. “Nothing is left for me now — my family is all trapped and all I can do is pray,” he told AFP in anguish.
Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, said her brother’s family remains under the rubble. “It’s a tragedy for us. We are helpless and just watching the rescue workers, hoping for a miracle,” she said.
Shankar Kamho, 30, recounted receiving a frantic call from his wife about visible cracks in the building shortly before the collapse. “She warned neighbours, but some didn’t take it seriously. Thankfully, she left with our daughter, 20 minutes later, the building was gone,” he said.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the collapse, but concerns are growing over the safety of ageing and poorly constructed buildings in the city. Investigations are expected to follow once the rescue operation concludes.
Emergency teams continue to clear rubble, with hopes of finding more survivors still alive beneath the ruins.
Written By Rodney Mbua
