Khaberni - Pakistani rescue officials said on Thursday that at least 16 people have died, including children and women, and others were injured after a gas cylinder explosion in a residential building in Karachi, Sindh, while families were preparing the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan.
The spokesperson for the regional ambulance service, Hassan Khan, told Agence France-Presse, "16 people, including women and children, died and 13 others were injured," noting that the three-story building located in the densely populated Soldier Bazaar suburb collapsed for an "unknown" reason, following the explosion that occurred around 4 a.m. local time.
A municipal official suggested that the explosion was likely caused by gas, but "the investigation will determine the specifics of the incident."
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his sorrow and condolences to the families of the victims and issued orders to ensure that the injured receive the best possible treatment.
He also called for a swift completion of the rescue operations and urged the Sindh government to enforce building regulations and inspect gas cylinders, and conduct an investigation to help prevent similar incidents.
Similar Incidents
On July 27 last year, a building in the poor Lyari neighborhood of Karachi collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 27 people and injuring 10 others.
Pakistan continuously experiences incidents of roof and building collapses, primarily due to poor safety standards and the use of substandard construction materials in this South Asian country, which has a population of over 240 million people.
In Karachi alone, the government has announced that about 600 buildings are at risk of collapse.
The city, home to over 20 million people, suffers from poor building conditions, illegal urban expansion, and deteriorating infrastructure, in addition to problems of overpopulation and weak enforcement of building laws.
