Death toll rises to 23 in Karachi building collapse

KARACHI: The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Karachi’s Lyari Baghdadi area has climbed to 23, with rescue teams recovering more bodies from the rubble, according to officials from Rescue 1122.

The officials confirmed that 23 bodies have been retrieved so far, with fears that more individuals may still be trapped under the rubble. The operation, now in its second day, is expected to take at least eight more hours to complete due to the complexity of the debris removal process.

The devastating incident occurred as a six-storey residential building collapsed in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, Karachi.

The collapsed building, constructed in 1974, had been declared dangerous by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) three years ago, with multiple notices issued to residents to vacate the premises.

 

Rescue 1122’s Director General, Abid Shaikh, in a media briefing, stated that the rescue operation has been ongoing without interruption since Friday. “We have completed 65% of the rescue work, and we are hopeful that the operation will be fully completed by tonight,” Shaikh added.

Two more bodies were recently recovered from the debris, bringing the death toll to 19. Authorities fear that more individuals may still be trapped under the rubble.

During a rescue operation, 19 individuals were rescued from the rubble, as confirmed by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab.

Tragically, nine people died—eight on the spot and one at the hospital, according to the mayor. Of the survivors, six were discharged after receiving medical treatment, while three injured individuals remain under care at the SMBB Trauma Centre.

The mayor said that the rescue operation is still ongoing as teams work to ensure no one else is left trapped.

Chhipa Welfare spokesperson earlier said that seven people have lost their lives and at least 20 to 25 people were trapped under the rubble.

Karachi commissioner holds citizens responsible 

Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, who visited the site after the lapse of 13 hours, said that  the primary responsibility for the recent tragedy lies with those residing in unsafe buildings.

He said that the Sindh Building Control Authority had previously issued notices regarding the collapsed structure.

He urged residents to prioritize the safety of themselves and their families, emphasizing that forcibly evicting people from their homes is an undesirable task, and the administration has no intention of doing so.

According to rescue authorities, an adjacent building has also sustained structural damage as a result of the collapse.

SBCA

According to the SBCA, the building which collapsed in Lyari’s Baghdadi area had been declared dangerous long ago.

SBCA officials said that the structure had been marked unsafe, and multiple enforcement actions had been taken. Officials said that several notices were issued instructing residents to vacate the premises.

Residents of the area, however, claimed that no such notices were given by the administration.

The SBCA stated that 578 unsafe buildings exist in the city, with the highest number located in District South.

Sindh governor expresses concern 

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed concern over the Karachi building collapse, stressing that all available resources must be utilised for rescue operations.

He directed that injured persons be provided immediate medical assistance and all necessary facilities, adding that any form of negligence or carelessness would not be tolerated.

Committee formed

Meanwhile, a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the collapse of the building in Lyari, a spokesperson for the Sindh Local Government Department said.

According to the spokesperson, the committee has been tasked with identifying negligent officers within three days.

Meanwhile, Sindh Local Government Minister has ordered the immediate suspension of relevant officials from the SBCA.

Read More: One dies as fire breaks out at Karachi’s residential building

Four days ago, a six-storey residential building in the Kharadar area experienced a partial collapse when the roof of an inter-building corridor gave way. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The incident occurred when the rooftop water tank collapsed, damaging the staircases and corridor that connected various floors of the building. As a result, several residents were trapped on the third, fourth, and fifth floors.

Rescue officials responded promptly, evacuating the stranded individuals using snorkels and cranes. Authorities confirmed that the building’s structure was compromised due to the force of the falling tank and subsequent structural strain.