Gas Explosion Kills 13, Including Children, as Building Collapses in Pakistan

By: Sunday Ameh

At least 13 people, including seven children, have been killed following a gas cylinder explosion that caused the collapse of a residential building in Karachi, Pakistan.

The incident occurred on Thursday at a multi-storey building located in Soldier Bazaar, a densely populated area in the eastern part of the city.

According to police authorities, the explosion originated from a gas cylinder on the first floor of the building, triggering a structural collapse that trapped several residents beneath the rubble.

Police official Summaiya Syed confirmed that seven children, including a two-year-old, were among those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
“The cylinder exploded on the first floor of the multi-storey compound in Soldier Bazaar,” police said, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the blast.

Emergency responders rescued more than a dozen injured residents from the debris, while fears remained that additional victims could still be trapped under the collapsed structure.

Residents joined rescue workers at the scene, assisting in clearing rubble and searching for survivors as ambulances transported casualties to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise caution in the use of gas appliances pending the outcome of investigations.

The explosion comes weeks after a deadly fire at a shopping mall in Karachi earlier this year claimed more than 70 lives, raising renewed concerns over building safety and emergency preparedness in the city.