A tragic building collapse in Karachi, Pakistan, on Friday claimed at least five lives and left six injured, with more victims feared trapped. Rescuers are actively working to pull people from the debris of the five-story residential structure.
Police officials confirmed that up to 100 individuals resided in the building, highlighting the significant scale of the disaster. The incident occurred around 10:10 AM local time, prompting an immediate, collaborative rescue effort by both residents and emergency services.
Saad Edhi, from the leading Edhi welfare foundation, estimates that an additional eight to ten people could still be trapped beneath the rubble of what he described as a "worn out building." The death toll, while officially five, was reported as four by Edhi.
Building collapses are unfortunately a frequent occurrence across Pakistan. This is primarily due to poor safety standards and the widespread use of shoddy construction materials throughout the nation.
Karachi, a sprawling city of over 20 million residents, is particularly notorious for these issues. The metropolis grapples with rampant poor construction, unapproved extensions, and an aging infrastructure.
Additionally, overcrowding and lax enforcement of crucial building regulations contribute significantly to these recurring tragedies, underscoring a critical need for structural and regulatory reform.
Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2606877/world