Rescue Efforts Continue as Toll Rises to 14 in Karachi Building Collapse

Rescue teams in Pakistan pulled more bodies from the rubble of a five-story building that collapsed in Karachi’s impoverished Lyari neighborhood overnight, bringing the death toll to 14. The recovery operation, now into its second day, is expected to continue for several more hours.

The disaster struck shortly after 10 a.m. on Friday in an area long plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous parts of the city. Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh, who is leading the government’s 1122 rescue service at the scene, reported that rescue efforts persisted through the night “without interruption.” He estimated that it could take between eight to twelve more hours to complete the operation.

At a nearby hospital, police official Summiaya Syed confirmed that the death toll stood at 14 on Saturday morning, with half of the victims being women, and 13 others injured. Police officer Arif Aziz added that up to 100 people had been living in the building.

One resident, Jumho Maheshwari, a 70-year-old man, said all six members of his family were inside his first-floor flat when he left for work early that morning. “Nothing is left for me now,” he lamented. “My family is all trapped, and I can only pray for their safe recovery.”

Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, shared her heartbreak, saying her brother’s family was also trapped beneath the debris. “It’s a tragedy for us. The world has changed for our family,” she said, tearfully awaiting news.

Shankar Kamho, 30, who was away at the time, recounted the terrifying moments before the collapse. “About 20 families were living inside,” he explained. “My wife called me in a panic, saying the building was cracking. I told her to get out immediately. She warned neighbors, but one woman told her ‘This building will stand for at least 10 more years.’ Still, my wife took our daughter and left. About 20 minutes later, the building collapsed.”