14 Dead, Including 3 Women and a Child, as Five-Story Building Collapses in Lyari

Karachi:A tragic incident occurred early Friday morning in the **Baghdadi** area of **Lyari**, where a five-story building collapsed, resulting in the death of **14 people**, including **3 women** and a child. The building completely crumbled to the ground, trapping numerous residents under the debris.

As of now, **9 people have been reported injured**, and rescue teams fear that **25 to 30 more individuals** may still be trapped beneath the rubble. Authorities have initiated rescue operations, but the situation is complicated by **disrupted mobile signals**, which are hindering communication and rescue efforts.

According to rescue officials, **six families** were residing in the building, and emergency teams have been using **heavy machinery** to remove the debris. Two other adjacent buildings, a **2-story** and a **7-story**, have also been evacuated as a precaution.

The building, which had three portions on each floor, was declared **dangerous** three years ago, but despite warnings, neither the residents nor the authorities took any significant action. Local officials confirmed that the **electricity and gas lines** to the affected building have been cut off to avoid further hazards.

**Karachi Commissioner**, **Syed Hassan Naqvi**, stated that the rescue operation could take up to **24 hours** to complete. He urged residents of other **unsafe buildings** to voluntarily relocate, as authorities cannot forcefully remove them. He also mentioned that a meeting with the **Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA)** will be scheduled to address issues related to **illegal constructions**.

In addition, **Deputy Commissioner South Karachi**, **Javed Khoso**, revealed that the residents of the collapsed building had received **notices in 2022, 2023, and 2024**, warning them of the structural dangers. He added that a team has been formed to assess the situation, and out of **107 dangerous buildings**, **21** have been identified as highly hazardous, with **14 already evacuated**.

The exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, and it remains premature to assign responsibility for the incident.