Karachi, Pakistan – Web Desk: At least 12 people have been killed in a gas leak explosion that ripped through a residential building in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar area early Thursday, police and rescue officials said.
According to police, the explosion occurred around 4 a.m. due to a gas leak inside the building, causing part of the structure to collapse. Security was tightened in the area as emergency teams launched a search and rescue operation to locate survivors trapped under the rubble.
Rescue officials said the three-storey building had a single room on each floor, and narrow streets in the area were hampering rescue efforts. Emergency responders continued clearing debris using specialized cutting equipment to remove metal and concrete.
Authorities confirmed that 12 bodies have been recovered so far, including four children and two women, while more than 10 people were injured and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Director General Rescue 1122 Brigadier Wajid told local media that the explosion occurred on the first floor and may have been caused by a gas cylinder or a gas extraction machine. He warned that more people could still be trapped beneath the rubble, and rescue operations are ongoing.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over gas safety standards and the use of cylinders in densely populated urban areas.
