A five-story apartment building in Karachi turned to dust on Friday. The sudden collapse left a grim trail of destruction. Rescue workers have been digging through the rubble ever since. By Sunday morning, the number of confirmed dead reached twenty-seven. Officials expect the clean-up operation to finish soon.
Local residents reported hearing loud cracking sounds just before the building gave way. The collapse happened around 10:00 AM in the Lyari neighborhood. This area is known for gang activity and is considered one of the more challenging parts of the city. Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s 1122 Rescue Service, confirmed the death toll on Sunday. He stated that nearly all the debris had been cleared.
Authorities quickly said they had warned people about the building’s dangers. They claim notices were sent out between 2022 and 2024. These warnings told residents the structure was unsafe and they should move out. However, some property owners and people living there told news outlets they never received any such documents.
Building collapses are a sad, regular event across Pakistan. Poor safety rules and the use of cheap construction materials are often to blame. Karachi, a massive city with over 20 million people, has an especially bad reputation. Many buildings suffer from poor construction, illegal additions, and old infrastructure. They are often overcrowded, and official building checks are not strictly enforced.
The questions about safety, responsibility, and why warnings might have gone unheeded will likely linger long after the last piece of rubble is removed.
Source: CNA