KARACHI: The death toll in the Lyari building collapse has climbed to 16, with rescue teams recovering more bodies from beneath the rubble on Saturday, officials confirmed.
The recovery mission entered its second day after a six-storey residential building came crashing down in the Baghdadi area of Lyari.
So far, nine people, including five women, have been rescued with injuries and are receiving medical care.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab stated that about 20 individuals are feared to still be trapped. He added that 19 people had already been pulled from the debris.
Sadly, nine people have died, eight at the scene and one at the hospital. Among the injured, six have been discharged after treatment, while three are still being cared for at SMBB Trauma Centre.
The rescue teams continue their efforts in hopes of finding any more survivors.
Earlier, a Chhipa Welfare representative said that at least seven people had died and roughly 20 to 25 individuals remained stuck under the collapsed structure.
Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, who visited the site more than 13 hours after the collapse, pointed fingers at the residents, saying they bear the main responsibility for living in buildings deemed unsafe.
He mentioned that the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had previously warned about the dangerous condition of the structure.
Naqvi stressed the importance of residents taking action to protect themselves and their families, adding that forced evacuations are not desirable or preferred by the authorities.
Rescue officials confirmed that a nearby building was also damaged due to the collapse.
According to the SBCA, the building had long been classified as dangerous. Officials claimed that multiple actions had been taken and various warnings issued for evacuation.
However, local residents refuted these claims, stating they had not received any such notices.
The SBCA revealed that there are currently 578 unsafe buildings in Karachi, with the most located in District South.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed his concern over the tragedy, directing that all possible resources be used in the rescue efforts.
He stressed that the injured must receive immediate care and that any lapses in responsibility would not be tolerated.
A high-level inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the collapse. The committee must submit findings and identify any negligent officials within three days, according to the Sindh Local Government Department.
Additionally, relevant SBCA officials have been suspended on the orders of the provincial Local Government Minister.
Just four days earlier, another six-storey building partially collapsed in the Kharadar area after the rooftop water tank gave way. Though no fatalities were reported, the staircases and corridors were badly damaged, trapping several residents on the upper floors.
Emergency crews used snorkels and cranes to safely evacuate the affected individuals. Officials confirmed that the structural damage was caused by the force of the falling tank and the strain it placed on the building.