KARACHI – At least three people have died and two others sustained injuries after massive fire erupted at multiple furniture shops at a six-storey apartment building in Karachi’s FB Area near Ayesha Manzil.
At least seven fire engines are participating in the operation to douse the fire while rescue officials are trying to evacuate people from the building.
SSP Central Danial Syed told media that fire has started engulfing the upper sections of the building where residential flats are located.
He said the fire initially started from a mattress store and it later engulfed the surrounding shops.
Report said a person was severely injured in the incident and he has been shifted to hospital for treatment.
Taking to X, Mayor of Karachi and PPP leader Murtaza Wahab Siddique said: “Fire brigade team is present on ground to deal with the fire situation at Ayesha Manzil. Snorkel is also present on site to evacuate people from the roof if required. Will keep everyone posted”.
A guy suffering from serious burns was extracted from the building during the rescue effort, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab acknowledged that two individuals may have been hurt in the fire.
Director of Rescue 1122 Sindh Abid Shaikh while talking to a local media outlet, stated: “The majority of individuals have been evacuated. The process of putting out the fire is still ongoing. The entire structure is completely consumed in a third category fire.”
The bottom and mezzanine floors of the impacted structure are entirely dedicated to commercial use, while the upper four stories are used by residential spaces.
Upon arriving at the scene later, Wahab stated that the identities of the three deceased individuals could not be determined. He went on to say that an inquiry would be conducted to determine what caused such a massive fire
More than 300 individuals have been evacuated, according to Rescue 1122. The extreme intensity of the fire also caused the rescue service to express worry of a structure collapse.
At the scene, despite the fire being half out, there was still a search and rescue effort in progress.
This is the second major fire event that has occurred in the port city in less than two weeks. On November 25, a fire tore through a retail centre on Rashid Minhas Road, leaving at least 11 people dead and several more injured.
