Karachi, August 21, 2025: A powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse on MA Jinnah Road Thursday afternoon, injuring at least 34 people and igniting a massive blaze that engulfed the busy commercial strip for hours.
The blast occurred in a ground-plus-two building near Sea Breeze Plaza, which housed medical equipment shops alongside a stockpile of fireworks and oxygen cylinders. The impact shattered windows in nearby buildings, damaged vehicles, and sent shards of glass flying across the street, injuring pedestrians and shopkeepers.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene within minutes, but repeated explosions inside the warehouse—triggered by fireworks and flammable material—hampered firefighting efforts. Ten fire tenders were deployed, and after several hours, the flames were brought under control. Cooling operations continued late into the night.
According to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed Tariq, 20 injured victims were shifted to Jinnah Hospital and 14 to Civil Hospital, with four in critical condition. Several suffered burns and deep cuts from flying debris, while a 70-year-old man sustained a fractured leg. One patient required emergency surgery.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and devastation. “We heard a deafening blast, then people screaming. Glass was everywhere. We carried some of the injured before ambulances arrived,” said a resident.
Police confirmed that the warehouse belonged to two brothers, both injured in the incident. One has recorded an initial statement as investigations begin. DIG South said the shockwave from the blast shattered shopfronts and injured bystanders on the busy road.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar condemned the incident, calling the storage of explosive material in populated areas “criminal negligence.” He noted that explosive permits were shifted to the federal government two months ago, yet such dangerous stockpiles still exist. He further revealed that the warehouse owner had previously been warned by the Counter-Terrorism Department for storing explosives in residential areas.
“This is unacceptable. We are investigating whether any authority permitted this or if it was done illegally. Storing explosives in the heart of the city will not be tolerated,” Lanjar said.
By late evening, firefighters remained at the site to cool down the building, while police teams collected evidence from the debris to determine the exact cause of the blast.
