Karachi- At least 14 people have died, including 8 men, 5 women, and a 7-year-old boy, after a five-storey residential building collapsed in Baghdadi, Lyari, on Friday. Authorities believe 25 to 30 people are still trapped under the debris.
Building Declared Unsafe Years Ago
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed the building was constructed in 1974 and had already been declared dangerous by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). Multiple notices had been sent, but residents had refused to vacate.
“There are over 400 dangerous buildings in Karachi,” the mayor said. “This tragedy proves that government warnings should not be ignored.”
Rescue Operations Face Challenges
Two nearby buildings — one two-storey, the other seven-storey — were evacuated as a precaution. Blocked streets and poor mobile signals slowed initial response, and local residents began rescue efforts before officials arrived.
Deputy Commissioner South confirmed that six families were living in the collapsed structure.
Inquiry Committee Formed
Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani announced that a high-level committee has been formed to investigate the collapse and will submit findings within three days. Several SBCA officials — including the Director and Deputy Director — have been suspended.
The SBCA further revealed that 578 buildings in Karachi have been listed as unsafe, most located in District South.
National Leaders React
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed deep sorrow and called for urgent relief measures. Speaker Sadiq emphasized the need for top-quality medical care and swift recovery of the injured.
Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Emir Munim Zafar visited the site and blamed the SBCA for failing to stop illegal and unsafe constructions.
“You can’t build five-storey buildings on 60-square-yard plots without backing,” he said. “The SBCA has become a hub of corruption.”
