At least 11 people — including four women and a seven-year-old boy — lost their lives when a five-storey residential building came crashing down in Karachi’s Lyari area on Friday.
The collapse has left the entire Baghdadi neighborhood shaken, with desperate rescue efforts still underway as officials believe up to 25 people may still be trapped under the rubble.
The Karachi building collapse occurred in a densely populated compound, home to around 20 apartments. The structure, built in 1974, had long been marked as unsafe. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed that the building had been declared dangerous but not evacuated. “Every government tries to persuade residents instead of using force. Today’s tragedy is a painful reminder of the risks of not acting sooner,” he said.
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Chaos unfolded at the site as relatives of victims tried to help rescue teams, unintentionally disrupting operations. Rangers and city wardens had to cordon off the area to keep the crowd away. Despite the emotional turmoil, rescue teams, using heartbeat-detecting devices, worked tirelessly — even preparing floodlights for night operations. The effort continues, with no breaks, as families wait in agony for news of their loved ones.
According to Deputy Commissioner South, six families were inside the building when it collapsed. An affected resident from Thatta said his aunt, who lived on the fourth floor, is in critical condition. “Some were pulled out, some we lost — we don’t know who’s still in there,” he added, eyes filled with fear and sorrow.
Two nearby buildings — one two-storey and the other seven-storey — were immediately evacuated due to their proximity. Police and Rangers urged residents to avoid the area, fearing further structural failures.
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The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) revealed the structure had received multiple notices for evacuation, all of which went ignored. In the wake of the Karachi building collapse, SBCA has suspended key officials, including the Director, Deputy Director, and Building Inspectors. The Authority also disclosed a shocking figure—578 buildings across Karachi, mostly in District South, are currently unsafe.
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani announced the formation of a high-level committee to probe the incident, with a report expected within three days. He reiterated that illegal and unsafe constructions remain a major threat. “Unfortunately, people ignore evacuation notices. We must act strictly now,” he warned.
Condolences flowed in from all directions. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mourned and directed emergency relief. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq sent condolences, calling for immediate medical attention to the wounded and prompt rescue operations.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Emir Munim Zafar also visited the site and held SBCA responsible for failing to enforce evacuations. “Over 100,000 unauthorized buildings have come up in Karachi over five years. This concrete jungle is growing under a system riddled with corruption,” he said.
