Karachi blast triggers building collapse, 16 killed: Pakistan officials

Karachi gas blast kills 16 during sehri, building collapses in Soldier Bazaar

At least 16 people, including women and children, were killed and more than a dozen were injured after a gas cylinder explosion triggered the collapse of part of a residential building in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar area early Thursday, officials said.

The blast occurred around 4:00–4:15 am in Gul Rana Colony near Street No. 05, close to Aga Khan School, when families were preparing sehri, the pre-sunrise meal during Ramadan. Rescue 1122 teams and ambulances rushed to the site and shifted victims to Civil Hospital Karachi, where several remain under treatment.

Eyewitnesses said the impact shook nearby buildings and caused panic in the neighbourhood. During the rescue operation, 16 bodies and 14 injured people were pulled from the rubble; one injured person was later discharged.

ASP Jamshed Nasir said, “The incident occurred at 4:15am. The building was constructed on girders. The cause of the collapse is being investigated. The gas blast occurred on the first floor.”

Police said the death toll rose after additional bodies were recovered while search operations continued for possible survivors trapped under debris.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured. He also called for enforcement of building codes, safety checks on gas cylinders and a thorough inquiry into the incident.

In Karachi and other cities, households commonly use both piped natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas cylinders due to low pressure in supply lines, a factor often linked to similar accidents. A previous gas explosion in Islamabad last year killed eight people at a wedding gathering.