A powerful explosion, believed to have originated from cooking gas, caused partial collapse of an apartment building in Karachi, Pakistan, trapping residents in the early hours of the first day of Ramadan. At least 16 people died and many others were injured. The President has ordered an urgent investigation and demanded stricter enforcement of building safety standards.
This morning (19 Feb), a powerful explosion occurred at a three-story residential building in Karachi, Pakistan's largest port city. The blast caused part of the building to collapse around dawn, while Muslims were preparing the pre-dawn meal to begin fasting on the first day of Ramadan.
Hassan Khan, spokesperson for the Sindh province rescue services, confirmed, "There are 16 confirmed deaths, including women and children, and at least 13 others injured."
Nasrullah Abbasi, a senior city official, said preliminary investigations suggest the cause was a gas explosion. However, authorities will conduct a thorough inquiry to determine the exact source, as the blast severely damaged the building's structure, leading to the collapse.
Typically, households and residential buildings in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan use natural gas for cooking. However, many families rely on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders due to insufficient natural gas pressure, which raises risks of leaks and explosions.
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families and ordered relevant agencies to provide the best possible care to the injured. He also instructed the Sindh provincial government to strictly enforce building regulations and seriously inspect gas cylinder safety to prevent future tragedies.
Building collapses are a frequent problem in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, which has over 20 million residents. Chronic issues include substandard construction, use of cheap, poor-quality materials, illegal building extensions that overload structures, and government reports listing around 600 buildings in Karachi as "dangerous," yet many remain densely inhabited.
This incident happened just months after a gas explosion at a wedding in Islamabad last July, which killed eight people, including the bride and groom.
/sourceAP