At least 16 people have been killed and more than a dozen others injured after a gas explosion tore through a three‑storey residential building in the Soldier Bazaar No 3 area of Karachi early Thursday, officials and rescue sources said.
The blast occurred on the first floor of the building in Gul Rana Colony at around 4:15 a.m. local time, when residents were preparing for the pre‑dawn meal ahead of Ramadan, police and rescue authorities told reporters.
Emergency teams, including Rescue 1122 Urban Search and Rescue units, Fire and Rescue crews, ambulances and disaster response vehicles rushed to the scene following distress calls. At least 16 bodies were recovered and 14 injured were pulled from the rubble and taken to Civil Hospital Karachi for treatment, officials said.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by a gas cylinder or gas suction machine, though authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause and have launched a full inquiry.
Among the victims were children and women, including a 10‑year‑old girl identified as Nazia and a 60‑year‑old man, Mohammad Riaz, whose bodies were recovered from the debris, police said.
Rescue teams continued to search for any additional survivors, but officials said narrow lanes in the densely populated neighborhood have hampered efforts to bring in heavy machinery and expedite the operation. Local authorities cordoned off the area, tightened security and urged residents to take precautions with gas use. Provincial officials have directed relevant departments to provide immediate assistance to victims’ families and launch an investigation into safety compliance in the building’s construction and