Karachi’s Lyari Building Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 16 as Rescue Operations Continue

Another body was recovered on Saturday from the rubble of the collapsed building in Karachi’s Lyari area, bringing the death toll to 16.

According to rescue officials, the operation is still underway with extreme caution as there are fears that more people remain trapped under the debris, which could further increase the number of casualties. So far, two bodies have been retrieved today, raising the total number of fatalities to 16, including 10 men and 6 women.

Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Khoso, while speaking to the media, stated that the rescue operation may take another 8 to 10 hours to complete. He confirmed that the next phase of the rescue mission has begun cautiously, with an estimated 10 to 12 individuals still believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Khoso revealed that the collapsed building had been declared dangerous three years ago, and a notice was issued to its residents just a month and a half ago. He further added that there are still 22 extremely dangerous buildings in Lyari, of which 16 have already been vacated.

Efforts are ongoing to evacuate the remaining hazardous structures, and in such cases, electricity and gas supplies are disconnected to ensure compliance, followed by legal action if needed.

The nephew of the building’s owner shared that each floor of the five-story building had three portions, and the structure was always crowded. Speaking to Geo News, he said his family members lived on the fourth floor. His aunt was rescued in critical condition, but her son lost his life, and three other relatives are still missing under the debris.

The tragic collapse occurred on Friday in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, where six families resided in the now-destroyed five-story residential building. Rescue teams continue their efforts to recover those still trapped and clear the site safely