Pakistan Building Collapse in Karachi Kills 27

Pakistan Building Collapse in Karachi Kills 27
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Rescue teams concluded a three-day operation on Monday after recovering 27 bodies from a collapsed residential building in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood, Arab News reported. The building crumbled around 10:00 am on Friday, with residents reporting cracking sounds shortly before the collapse. Lyari, once known for gang violence, is among Karachi’s poorest areas.

Javed Nabi Khoso, the district’s top government official, confirmed that all victims trapped under the debris were recovered and the search was called off. The death toll now stands at 27.

Authorities stated the building had been declared unsafe, and eviction notices were reportedly sent to occupants between 2022 and 2024. However, landlords and some residents told AFP they never received such notices. Among the victims, 20 were members of the Hindu minority community, according to activist Sundeep Maheshewari, who noted that most affected families are very poor.

Following the collapse, officials have begun evacuating other dangerous buildings in the district. Khoso said five out of more than 50 hazardous buildings have been cleared since Saturday, with plans to continue evacuations until all unsafe structures are addressed.

Building collapses are common in Pakistan due to poor safety standards, substandard construction materials, illegal extensions, aging infrastructure, and weak enforcement of regulations. Karachi, home to over 20 million people, is particularly affected by these issues, raising ongoing concerns about urban safety in the megacity.