The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Pakistan’s mega-city of Karachi has risen to 27, with rescue teams in the final stages of clearing the wreckage on Sunday.
The apartment block in Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood, an area once known for gang violence, crumbled around 10:00 AM on Friday, shortly after residents reported hearing cracking sounds.
Hassaan Khan, a spokesperson for government rescue service 1122, confirmed the updated death toll Sunday morning, expecting the operation to conclude by afternoon.
Credit: The Mountaineer
Authorities stated the building had been declared unsafe, and eviction notices were issued to occupants between 2022 and 2024.
However, some landlords and residents have denied receiving these notices.
Amidst the ongoing recovery efforts, families are grieving; 54-year-old Dev Raj shared his sorrow over his daughter, recently married, being trapped under the debris.
Building collapses are frequent in Pakistan due to lax safety standards and substandard construction. Karachi, a city of over 20 million, is particularly notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, aging infrastructure, and inadequate enforcement of building regulations.
