Gas leak explosion in Karachi residential building kills 16, injures 14

At least 16 people, including several children, were killed and 14 others injured after a gas leak triggered an explosion in a residential building in Karachi early Thursday morning, according to local police officials.

Authorities said the blast occurred around 4:30 a.m. on the first floor of a building located in the Old Soldier Bazaar area. Investigators believe the explosion was caused by an accumulation of gas inside the structure.

Officials added that the building was already in a deteriorated condition, and part of its structure collapsed following the explosion, complicating rescue efforts. Emergency crews transported the injured to nearby hospitals, while recovery operations continued through the morning.

The incident marks the second major urban tragedy in Karachi in recent weeks. Last month, a fire in the basement of Gul Shopping Plaza in the city’s Saddar area claimed the lives of approximately 79 people, raising renewed concerns about building safety standards and enforcement in Pakistan’s largest city.

Safety experts in Pakistan have repeatedly called for stricter inspections of aging residential and commercial buildings, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods, to prevent similar incidents.