KARACHI: At least 14 people, including women and children, were killed and 14 others injured after a suspected gas cylinder explosion caused part of a residential building to collapse in Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi, rescue and police officials said on Thursday.
The blast occurred in the early hours of the morning in Gul Rana Colony, located in the densely populated Soldier Bazaar area. According to police and emergency responders, the explosion took place on the first floor of a three-storey residential structure, triggering a partial collapse that left residents buried under debris.
Emergency services rushed to the site near Street No. 05, close to Aga Khan School, shortly after the incident was reported around 4:15am. Ambulances and volunteers transported the injured and deceased to Civil Hospital Karachi, where treatment for survivors is ongoing.
Rescue officials said the explosion was likely caused by a gas leak, possibly from a cylinder or gas suction machine. “According to initial reports, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak, resulting in part of the building collapsing,” a District East police spokesperson said.
Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid, who was overseeing rescue operations, said the explosion took place at Sehri time – the pre-dawn meal during the holy month of Ramadan – when many residents were awake.
“The blast was caused by gas leakage. Around 14 bodies have been recovered and 14 people were injured. Small rooms had been built on the ground plus two floors. Due to very limited space, rescuers are facing difficulties in the operation,” he said.
Officials noted that the building consisted of single-room units and had been constructed on girders. Authorities indicated that the structure was not a legally approved building.
Nearby buildings were also damaged due to the intensity of the explosion, eyewitnesses said, adding that the blast shook surrounding homes and triggered panic in the neighbourhood.
Among the victims were a 60-year-old man identified as Mohammad Riaz, a 10-year-old girl named Nazia, a 17-year-old girl, and several women. Rescue authorities confirmed that children were among both the dead and injured. A 14-year-old girl was rescued in an injured condition from the rubble.
Search and rescue operations continued throughout the day, with officials saying one to two individuals were still believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Narrow streets in the congested locality hampered the movement of heavy machinery, complicating rescue efforts.
Police cordoned off the area and deployed additional personnel to secure the site as urban search and rescue teams, including Rescue 1122 and disaster response units, combed through the rubble.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s House.
He directed relevant authorities to immediately rescue those trapped and ensure the injured receive the best possible medical treatment.
The chief minister also ordered an investigation into the cause of the explosion and instructed the Karachi commissioner to provide all possible support to the affected families.
Residents of the area complained that building collapses and gas-related explosions are a recurring hazard in Pakistan, often linked to poor safety standards, ageing infrastructure and the use of substandard construction materials.
Karachi, a megacity of more than 20 million residents, is particularly vulnerable due to widespread illegal constructions, overcrowding and weak enforcement of building regulations.
In July 2025, at least 27 people were killed and 10 injured when a five-storey building collapsed in the city’s Lyari area. Authorities had previously declared the structure unsafe.
According to the Sindh Building Control Authority, hundreds of buildings across Karachi have been identified as dangerous. A month later, in August 2025, a gas explosion caused the collapse of a political party office in Orangi Town, injuring four people.
Officials said the exact cause of the latest explosion in Soldier Bazaar remains under investigation, as rescue teams continue efforts to clear debris and account for all residents.
