02/19/2026, 11:2802/19/2026, 11:28
At least 16 people were killed in an explosion in a residential building in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi.
The rescue of those buried is making slow progress because of the narrow streets.Image: keystone
According to police and emergency services, the building collapsed as a result of the explosion. Rescuers used heavy equipment to work through the rubble to rescue survivors, rescue service spokesman Omair Khan said.
Several children were among the dead, Khan said. At least 14 injured people were taken to a larger hospital in the city. The explosion occurred early on Thursday morning during the preparation of the traditional “Sehri” meal. The communal meal is eaten in the morning hours of Ramadan. Today the month of fasting begins in Pakistan.
Poor safety standards and a lack of infrastructure repeatedly lead to accidents in Pakistan.Image: keystone
The rescue of the buried victims is progressing slowly due to the densely populated neighborhood, the narrow streets and the chaotic infrastructure, said police officer Bakhat Zaman. Local television footage showed ambulances taking the injured to hospitals. Relatives of the missing people waited in tears for the rescue efforts to end.
According to official figures, 20 million people live in the metropolis of Karachi. At the end of January, at least 60 people died in a devastating fire in a department store there. Poor safety standards and a lack of infrastructure repeatedly lead to accidents in the South Asian country. (sda/dpa)