Gas Explosion Collapses Karachi Apartment, Kills 13–16
A gas explosion during a pre-dawn Ramadan meal partially collapsed an apartment building in Karachi, killing roughly 13 to 16 people, officials said.
Overview
A gas explosion ripped through an apartment building in Karachi on Thursday, killing roughly 13 to 16 people and injuring several others after part of the structure collapsed, police and rescue officials said.
The blast occurred as people prepared a pre-dawn meal on the first day of Ramadan in a residential area, according to local police chief Rizwan Patel.
Rescuers were still removing rubble to search for survivors, and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow and directed authorities to ensure treatment and swift completion of rescue operations, officials said.
The death toll was initially reported at 13 before officials said it rose to 16 after three more bodies were pulled from the rubble, and several people were reported injured, police said.
Zardari urged the Sindh provincial government to enforce building codes, check gas cylinder safety and conduct a thorough inquiry to help prevent similar incidents, and search-and-rescue operations continued, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report the Karachi gas-explosion neutrally, focusing on verifiable facts: casualty counts, rescue efforts, and officials’ statements calling for investigations and safety checks. Language is restrained; multiple perspectives (police, rescue officials, the president) are presented without evaluative judgment. Contextual reference to a past blast provides background rather than editorializing.
Sources (3)
FAQ
The explosion was caused by a gas-related incident in the apartment building. While the search results indicate that most houses and apartment buildings in Karachi are supplied with natural gas for cooking, and many households also rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders due to low natural gas pressure, the exact source of the explosion is not specified in the available reports. The blast occurred during the early morning hours when residents were preparing a pre-dawn meal on the first day of Ramadan.
The explosion happened on the first day of Ramadan during pre-dawn meal preparation (Suhoor), a significant time in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast during daylight hours and eat before dawn. This explains why residents were awake and gathered in the building at an unusual early morning hour, increasing the number of people present and consequently the casualty count.
No. In July, a gas explosion following a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, killed eight people, including the bride and groom. This demonstrates that gas-related explosions are a recurring safety concern in Pakistan, prompting President Zardari to call for stricter enforcement of building codes, gas cylinder safety checks, and thorough inquiries to prevent similar incidents.
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari directed authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured and called for swift completion of rescue operations. He also urged the Sindh provincial government to enforce building codes, check gas cylinder safety, and conduct a thorough inquiry to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Many households in Karachi and across Pakistan rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure in the standard natural gas supply systems. While most houses and apartment buildings are supplied with natural gas for cooking, the insufficient pressure makes supplementary LPG cylinders necessary for many residents.
History
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