Gas explosion suspected in deadly Karachi apartment collapse

At least 16 people, including women and children, were killed after a suspected gas explosion triggered the partial collapse of a residential building in Karachi early Thursday morning.

The explosion occurred around 4:00–4:15 a.m. local time in the Soldier Bazaar area, as residents were preparing the pre-dawn Sehri meal during Ramadan. According to police and rescue officials, the blast struck the first floor of a ground-plus-two-storey building in Gul Rana Colony, causing part of the structure to collapse and trapping occupants beneath the debris.

Provincial rescue agency spokesperson Hassan Khan confirmed that 16 people had died and at least 13 to 14 others were injured. The injured and deceased were transported to Civil Hospital Karachi. Authorities stated that search and rescue operations continued throughout the day as teams worked to locate any additional survivors.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Jamshed Asher said the collapse followed what appeared to be a gas explosion, though officials noted that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause. Senior city official Nasrullah Abbasi described the explosion as “apparently” linked to gas, pending final findings.

Officials noted that the building consisted of small individual rooms, complicating access during rescue operations. Law enforcement cordoned off the area and tightened security.

Karachi, a city of more than 20 million people, has faced repeated building collapses linked to poor construction standards and weak regulatory enforcement. In July 2025, a five-storey building collapse in the Lyari area killed 27 people. Authorities have previously identified hundreds of structures in the city as unsafe.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and called for enforcement of building codes and gas safety checks.