In a recent and alarming incident, a six-story apartment building near Karachi’s bustling Ayesha Manzil area caught fire on Wednesday, resulting in at least two injuries.
The fire, originating in a shop due to a short circuit, swiftly spread to other shops in the furniture market beneath the building, rapidly engulfing the entire structure, comprising 250 shops and 450 apartments.
Panic ensued among residents, but swift action from the Fire Department facilitated the complete evacuation of the building within two hours.
During the rescue operation, a man with severe burns was rescued, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed two injuries.
The affected building, featuring two commercial floors and four residential floors, posed the risk of collapse, prompting the successful evacuation of over 300 people by Rescue 1122.
Despite partial containment of the fire, a search operation is ongoing at the site. This incident comes shortly after another major fire less than two weeks ago claimed 11 lives in a shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road.
The consecutive fires highlight concerns regarding the oversight of fire safety measures in Karachi’s numerous apartment complexes, home to nearly 20 million residents.
Following the Rashid Minhas Road fire, authorities initiated a fire safety audit across several buildings in Karachi. However, the Ayesha Manzil fire erupted before the audit’s completion.
While no major injuries are reported in this incident, the evacuation largely relied on residents themselves, emphasizing the pressing need for improved fire safety measures in the city’s residential and commercial structures.
