Karachi, July 5, 2025 – The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey residential building in Karachi’s Lyari area has climbed to 19, after four more bodies were recovered from the rubble on Saturday. Rescue teams have been working around the clock for a second consecutive day, searching for survivors and recovering remains from the debris in the densely populated Baghdadi locality.
Officials estimate that 10 to 12 people may still be trapped beneath the wreckage. The decades-old structure, which housed more than 40 people across 20 apartments, came crashing down on Friday, triggering panic and heartbreak among residents and their families.
So far, 16 bodies — including six women and 10 men — have been retrieved, while three injured individuals are receiving treatment at a local hospital, according to hospital authorities.
Rescue efforts were initially hampered by distressed relatives attempting to assist, prompting authorities to deploy Rangers and city wardens to cordon off the site. Heavy machinery is now being used to clear the debris, while rescue personnel are employing a Trapped Person Locator, a device that detects heartbeats under rubble, to search for signs of life.
The search operation, now entering its 24th hour, remains complex and time-consuming. District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Khoso said the operation could take another 8 to 10 hours to complete.
“This building was declared dangerous three years ago,” said DC Khoso. “A notice was issued a month and a half ago, yet the building remained occupied.” He added that 22 buildings in Lyari have been declared extremely hazardous, of which 16 have been evacuated, while efforts are ongoing to vacate the rest. He warned of legal action against those who fail to comply with evacuation orders.
Yousuf, a survivor of the collapse, confirmed that evacuation notices had been issued earlier. “The building shook twice before it collapsed,” he recalled. “I was on the fourth floor and was going down the stairs with my aunt when it happened.”
During a late-night visit to the site, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi urged residents of other unsafe buildings to relocate immediately. “We cannot force anyone to leave, but we strongly advise evacuation to prevent further loss of life,” he said. The commissioner also announced plans to meet with the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) regarding illegal and unsafe constructions.
In response to the tragedy, the Sindh government has formed a high-level committee to investigate the collapse. The committee will submit its findings within three days. The SBCA has confirmed that the collapsed building, approximately 30 years old, had been officially declared unsafe. Evacuation notices were issued two years ago, and utility disconnection notices were sent to K-Electric and the Water Board as recently as June 25, 2025. However, utility services were never cut, nor was the building vacated.
Hassan Bakshi, a representative of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), urged the government to take over unsafe buildings and provide temporary housing for residents. “The government should rebuild these structures and accommodate displaced families in rental units for at least two years,” he proposed, adding that ABAD was ready to assist in the effort.
This incident is part of a worrying trend. Karachi has witnessed multiple building collapses since 2017, most involving illegally constructed or dangerously deteriorated structures. The SBCA has declared 578 buildings across the city unsafe, with a staggering 456 located in District South alone. Other at-risk districts include Central (66), Keamari (23), Korangi (14), East (13), Malir (4), and West (2).
Urban planning experts and civil society members emphasize that warnings and notices are not enough. They call for the Sindh government to enforce immediate evacuations and arrange temporary housing to avert further tragedies.
