Karachi: At least 16 people, including women and children, were killed after a powerful explosion led to the partial collapse of a three-storey residential building in Pakistan’s Sindh province capital Karachi.
The incident occurred in the Soldier Bazaar area, specifically in Gul Rana Colony, late Wednesday night. According to preliminary reports, the blast is suspected to have been triggered by a gas leak that ignited after a spark.
Rescue officials said the explosion took place on the first floor of the building, causing a significant portion of the structure to cave in. Several residents were trapped under the debris.
The injured and deceased were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment and identification.
Media reports indicate that among the deceased were four children and three women. Emergency response teams, along with police personnel, rushed to the site and launched search and rescue operations using all available resources.
According to a report by Dawn, police officials said initial findings suggest that the explosion was caused by a gas leak, possibly from a cylinder or related equipment. Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the blast.
Search operations were ongoing at the time of filing this report, amid fears that more victims could be trapped under the rubble.
