A six-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi’s Lee Market area on Friday, killing 17 people, while a rescue operation is still underway.
According to rescue officials, 12 others remained under treatment at a local hospital. Officials said that between 10 to 12 individuals may still be trapped beneath the debris. Rescue efforts continued, with authorities estimating that the operation may require a further six to eight hours to complete.
The rescue operation was going on at a slow pace. As per rescue officials, the operation is taking time due to the presence of bodies under the debris.
They say the victims include four men, as many women and a child. The eight injured also include four women.
Some of the victims have been identified as Waseem, Prantik, Hoori Bibi, Prem and Fatima. However, a woman, who was also among the deceased, a 30-year-old man shifted to the Civil Hospital and a seven-year-old child pulled out from the rubble remain unidentified.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire brigade was promptly informed after the collapse. They also expressed concern that additional people could be buried under the rubble.
A rescue operation is underway to pull out the injured from the rubble, with Rangers personnel also assisting in the efforts. The building next to the collapsed structure has been evacuated.
Commissioner blames residents
Thirteen hours after the incident, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi reached the collapsed residential building in the Baghdadi area of Lyari.
Speaking to the media, Naqvi emphasized that this was not the time for a blame game.
"Agencies and institutions should refrain from blaming each other," he stated. "The residents themselves bear the greatest responsibility for such incidents. These buildings are dangerous, and we have issued evacuation notices for them."
He added, "People living in these derelict buildings are putting their lives at serious risk. Despite receiving notices, many choose to stay. Unfortunately, the administration cannot forcibly remove them from their homes."
Commissioner Naqvi reiterated the urgency of vacating unsafe structures, urging residents to act responsibly to prevent further tragedies.
SBCA director general stance on building collapse
The director general of SBCA, Ishaq Khuhro, stated that authorities are verifying whether the collapsed building was listed as a dangerous structure. He added that the building was even older than 1979 and that a detailed report regarding the collapse is being prepared.
According to rescue officials, the injured include 50-year-old Fatima, 35-year-old Chanda, 35-year-old Sunita, 25-year-old Rashid, and 45-year-old Yousuf.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the building collapse incident in Lyari and has directed the SBCA to provide details of all dilapidated buildings across the city.
The chief minister expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and ordered the concerned authorities to submit an immediate report. He also instructed rescue teams to expedite efforts to recover those trapped under the debris and to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured.
Saeed Ghani forms committee to probe Lyari building collapse
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the recent building collapse incident in Lyari.
According to the minister, the committee has been tasked to identify within three days any officers responsible for negligence that may have led to the tragic incident.
Saeed Ghani emphasized that strict action will be taken against those found guilty of carelessness to prevent such incidents in the future. The committee’s findings will play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and improving safety standards across the city.
Building collapses after ‘explosive shocks’
The residential building collapsed following several jolting shocks that residents initially mistook for an earthquake.
According to eyewitnesses, the shocks began around 6am, causing concern in the neighborhood, but it wasn’t until 10 am that the building suddenly came crashing down.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying moments following the collapse, with chaos, screams, and panic spreading throughout the area. Locals rushed to the scene and began rescue efforts on their own, pulling people from the debris with their bare hands before rescue teams arrived.
Residents revealed that the building had previously been served evacuation notices, yet some families continued to live there. Despite warnings, the structure remained occupied.
“We thought it was an earthquake because we felt the tremors since morning,” a neighbor said, adding, “No one imagined that it was a warning sign of the building’s imminent collapse.”
Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) are investigating the cause of the collapse, including the residents' claims of explosive shocks prior to the incident.
Where is Lea Market in Karachi?
Lea Market is a well-known marketplace located in Liyari, south of Karachi, and named after a British engineer, Measham Lea, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the city.
The market is a bustling center where vendors sell a variety of goods, including dairy products, fish, meat, and fresh vegetables.
One of the prominent features of the market is its old clock tower, which stands as a historical landmark.
Lea Market was built in 1927.
It once served as a major trading hub in Karachi, playing a significant role in the city’s commercial activity.
Originally, the marketplace consisted of three two-storey buildings.
Later, during the tenure of President Ayub Khan, an additional building was constructed to specifically accommodate meat sellers, further expanding the market’s capacity.
