A five-storey residential building collapsed in the Baghdadi area of Lyari, Karachi, leaving five people dead and several others trapped under the rubble. Six injured individuals have been rescued, one of whom is reported to be in critical condition.
Rescue officials said that teams from rescue agencies, police, and Rangers reached the site immediately after the incident and began relief operations. With the help of residents, efforts are underway to recover those still trapped beneath the debris.
Authorities confirmed that five bodies were recovered from the wreckage, while six people, including three women, were pulled out injured. The injured were shifted to the Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital, where medical staff reported that one female victim is in critical condition. According to a rescue spokesperson, locals fear that 20 to 25 people may still be trapped under the debris.
An Edhi spokesperson reported that five bodies and six injured individuals have been retrieved so far. An emergency has been declared at Jinnah and Civil Hospitals in Karachi. Rescue officials added that six families were residing in the collapsed building, and efforts are ongoing to rescue more people. Two nearby buildings—one with two storeys and the other with seven—have been evacuated as a precaution.
Officials noted that several people remain trapped, and narrow streets are making it difficult for heavy machinery to reach the site. A large number of residents are assisting with rescue operations. Eyewitnesses said the building was in a dilapidated condition, and several other structures in the city’s older neighborhoods are also in a similar state.
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani took notice of the collapse and directed that all those trapped be rescued quickly and surrounding obstacles be removed. Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori also expressed concern and instructed rescue agencies to conduct swift and coordinated operations.
He emphasized that all available resources should be used to rescue those trapped safely, provide immediate medical assistance to the injured, and offer full support to the affected families. He warned that negligence or carelessness would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, the Sindh Chief Minister has demanded a detailed report on the incident.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah termed the collapse a tragic incident and directed the Sindh Building Control Authority to immediately provide a list of all dilapidated buildings in the city. He ordered prompt identification of hazardous buildings and practical measures to ensure public safety, stating that negligence will not be tolerated.
