At least 16 dead after building partially collapses in Pakistan's Karachi

At least 16 people, including women and children, were killed and 14 others injured after a suspected gas explosion triggered the partial collapse of a residential building in Pakistan’s largest city, officials said on February 19.

The incident occurred around 4:15 a.m. local time in the Soldier Bazaar neighbourhood of Karachi, during Sehri — the pre-dawn meal observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. According to police, the explosion took place on the first floor of a ground-plus-two-storey structure located in Gul Rana Colony, Caliber.Az reports per Pakistani media. 

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Jamshed Asher said the blast led to the collapse of part of the building, trapping residents under the rubble.

The injured and the deceased were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi, one of the city’s largest public medical facilities. The director of the hospital’s Trauma Centre, Dr Mohammad Sabir Memon, said 13 bodies from the incident were brought to the hospital.

Emergency responders continued search and rescue operations throughout the day. Rescue 1122 — Pakistan’s state-run emergency service — said its urban search and rescue team and a disaster response vehicle were deployed at the scene.

Speaking to the media, Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid, also confirmed that a gas explosion was the cause of the structure’s partial collapse and said the ground plus two-floor structure had small rooms, and the limited space made the rescue operation challenging.

“This is not a legal building, and the structure is made of individual rooms,” said the senior rescue official, adding that the collapse also damaged surrounding structures.

A District East police spokesperson said law enforcement officers secured the area shortly after the explosion.

“Police cordoned off the area and tightened security, while rescue agencies initiated a search and rescue operation,” said the police spokesperson.

Building collapses are not uncommon in Karachi, a city of more than 20 million people, where rapid urbanisation, lax enforcement of construction regulations and the proliferation of unauthorised structures have raised safety concerns.

In July 2025, at least 27 people died and 10 others were injured after a five-storey building collapsed in the Lyari area of the metropolis. Authorities had previously declared that structure uninhabitable due to its deteriorating condition.

By Sabina Mammadli