Fire in Karachi’s Korangi Area Remains Uncontrolled After a Week, Experts Suggest Underground Gas Presence

Karachi, Pakistan:A fire that broke out in Karachi’s Korangi area over a week ago continues to burn despite ongoing efforts to control it. Experts suggest that there may be underground gas present, although they indicate that the supply is not substantial.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan stated that the nature of the fire has changed, and there has been a decrease in the water emerging from the ground. He mentioned that the fire could be extinguished within an hour, but there are concerns about the potential spread of gas in the surrounding area, which could cause further damage.

“The delay in the report was due to the Eid holidays, but we expect to receive the full report by Monday,” Khan added. He also noted that typically, gas of this nature is allowed to burn for up to a month, and based on the current situation, it appears there is no large underground gas reservoir.

The fire initially erupted before Eid in a private housing society in Karachi during a boring operation. The CEO of the construction company involved explained that the excavation had only reached 1,200 feet and that soil testing prior to the operation had indicated no presence of gas.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, hoping to bring the fire under control without causing any additional risk to nearby areas.