A catastrophic building collapse triggered by a powerful explosion has resulted in a significant loss of life in Karachi, Pakistan’s most populous metropolis. The tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday in the densely populated Soldier Bazaar neighborhood. Local authorities have confirmed that at least sixteen individuals, including children, perished in the incident, with more than a dozen others sustaining injuries.
The structural failure occurred at approximately 4:00 AM local time, a period when many Muslim households were actively preparing Sehri, the traditional pre-dawn meal consumed during the holy month of Ramadan. This timing tragically increased the number of residents present within the residential building, exacerbating the casualty count.
Emergency response teams, including rescue workers and medical personnel, were immediately dispatched to the disaster site. Operations continued throughout the day as crews worked meticulously to search for potential survivors trapped beneath the debris and recover victims. The precise cause of the initial explosion that precipitated the collapse remains under active investigation by local authorities. This incident has drawn renewed attention to building safety standards and urban infrastructure challenges in Pakistan’s major urban centers.