Sixteen killed in Soldier Bazaar building blast as clearing operation starts

KARACHI: At least 16 people, including four children and six women, were killed and 14 others injured after a cylinder explosion tore through a three-storey residential building in Soldier Bazaar No 3 in Karachi, rescue officials said on Thursday.

According to rescue sources, the blast occurred on the first floor late Wednesday night, triggering a partial collapse of the structure. Emergency teams deployed all available resources to search for survivors trapped under the rubble.

DIG East Dr Farrukh Lanjar said preliminary information indicated the explosion was likely caused by a gas leak. However, he stressed that the exact cause would only be confirmed after a chemical examination. An investigation is under way, and authorities will determine whether the building was constructed legally or illegally before fixing responsibility.

Rescue workers recovered several bodies during the operation. Among the victims were a 10-year-old girl, Nazia, and a 60-year-old man, Mohammad Riaz. The bodies of a 17-year-old girl, a 19-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman were also pulled from the debris.

Rescuers later retrieved the bodies of two more women, while identification of another victim was still in progress. A 14-year-old girl was rescued in an injured condition, and several children were among those shifted to hospital for treatment.

Officials confirmed that the search operation had been completed and efforts to clear the debris had begun. Police cordoned off the area and tightened security as recovery work continued.