Factory Collapses Amid Ongoing Firefighting Efforts
KARACHI – A devastating fire broke out on Thursday at a garment factory in the Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) located in the Landhi area, leaving at least seven people injured. According to rescue and fire brigade officials, the blaze led to the complete collapse of the factory building, intensifying the rescue operations.
The fire started early in the morning and continued to rage for more than four hours despite the dedicated efforts of fire department teams. A total of 12 fire tenders and two snorkels were deployed to battle the flames. More firefighting units were called to the scene as the situation escalated.
Officials confirmed that workers trapped in the basement of the affected factory were safely evacuated. In a preventive move, buildings adjacent to the factory were also evacuated to avert any further casualties or damage.
Chief Minister Orders Inquiry and Prioritizes Safety
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah promptly took notice of the incident and issued directives to all concerned departments. He emphasized the need to protect human lives at all costs and urged fire brigade and rescue teams to accelerate their efforts to control the situation.
“The safety of workers and nearby residents must be prioritized,” the chief minister stated. He also instructed the Karachi commissioner to initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. Shah added that all possible support should be extended to the factory owners and injured workers.
According to initial reports, a large number of workers were present at the factory when the fire erupted, raising concerns over industrial safety protocols. Fire incidents like this remain alarmingly frequent in Karachi, often due to inadequate fire safety systems and building code violations.
