Karachi tragedy: 27 killed in Lyari building collapse as rescue enters third day

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KARACHI: The last rites of 20 victims killed in the collapse of the building in the Baghdadi area of ​​Lari were presented late on Saturday when the search operation entered the third day, stating that at least three people were buried under the rubble, a spokesman for the EDHI Foundation said on Sunday.

So far, rescue workers have recovered 26 bodies-including nine women, 15 men, and a ten-year-old boy and a half-year-old girl-who are treating three persons, which, according to the hospital administration, died after reaching 27.

A spokesman for the EDHI Foundation said on Sunday that all the bodies recovered have been sent to the Moch Goth Maheshwari Cemetery in Balkia for burial.

Heavy machinery was employed to clean the debris while rescue personnel used a trapped person’s locator – a device that detects heartbeat under debris – to identify survivors.

The Sindh government has constituted a high -level committee to investigate the incident, which was given the task of submitting a report by Monday.

A decades -old building in a densely populated Karachi neighborhood, with more than 40 people in 20 apartments on Friday.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) revealed that the collapse structure was 30 years old and was previously declared unsafe.

The authority has claimed that it issued formal notices of the evacuation two years ago, and the latest service was served on June 25, 2025. It was stated that it had also sent notices to K-Electric and Water Board to disconnect utility services-but neither contacts were cut off nor the building was evacuated.

400 ‘dangerous’ buildings

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed deep sorrow over the collapse of the Lyari building, calling it a heartbreaking incident. He told reporters that the government’s priority in all efforts to rescue is to save lives.

Talking to media in Karachi, the Chief Minister said that a committee has been constituted to investigate the incident. He added, “We will review these reports at tomorrow’s meeting.

He also revealed that the building was evacuated last night in Agra Taj, which was built a few years ago without the approval of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA).

The Chief Minister urged the citizens to confirm whether a building had received all necessary approval before buying a flat.

He added that the government is examining the powers of transferring residents of more than 400 ‘dangerous’ buildings to the old city area.

‘Got the big amount’

Providing details of the ongoing search operation, a rescue officer said on Sunday that 80 % of the removal of debris had been completed, but three more people could still be buried under the rubble.

“During the operation, a large amount was received twice, which was handed over to the concerned parties,” he said. He added that more than 50 rickshaws were also buried under the rubble.

This incident, though unfortunately, is not an accident once because Karachi has seen a model of the collapse of the building since 2017.

The deadly incidents are widely connected to illegal and dilapidated buildings, many of which have long been declared unsafe, but is occupied by the SBCA due to weak implementation.

The incident has also highlighted the current threat posed by the SBCA already unsafe and disqualified buildings. The number of such buildings is 578 in Karachi, out of which 456 are in the south only.

Other districts also face danger: Central (66), Kamari (23), Korangi (14), East (13), Malir (4), and West (2).

The SBCA claimed that it had issued formal evacuation notices two years ago, and on June 25, 2025, also sent notices to the K-Electric and Water Board to disconnect utility services-but neither the contacts were cut off nor the building was vacated.

Another building declared unsafe

Although dust was not settled since the collapse of the residential building on Friday, another multi -country complex was declared “unsafe” in the same locality, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders on Sunday.

In the Agra Taj, police and authorities initially faced resistance to residents, who refused to evacuate the “in any case”.

“Where were the institutions when the building was being built?” Residents questioned, demanding alternative housing before being asked to evacuate the building.

“We’re living in this building, and we don’t feel any danger,” said a residents of the building.

In response, the district administration assured that the affected people would be paid properly by the builder.

The District South Deputy Commissioner said, “We have offered to move the affected people to a school,” said District South Deputy Commissioner, when residents have been urged to evacuate the dilapidated building.

Saying that he had contacted the concerned builder, the officer assured that proper action would be taken against him and he would return the residents.

Authorities also demolished the water tank on the roof, in their bid to persuade residents to evacuate the structure.

According to police, a case has been registered against the builder at the collar police station on the complaint of SBCA Assistant Director.

The attempt to demolish failed

According to police officials, in addition, the alleged mafia members were tried to demolish the department’s heritage building near a coal warehouse in the khardar area.

The suspects allegedly tried to carry out the demolition using heavy machinery during the public holiday, and took advantage of the absence of law enforcement personnel on public holidays.

Residents of the area resisted to demolish, which raised concerns over the safety of the neighboring structure. Locals have reported that the use of heavy machinery caused vibration in the adjoining building, confirmed the claim was later confirmed by police officers, who said the horror resulted in the collapse of the collapse.

In response to the calls of the community, the police arrived at the scene and arrested two suspects. Authorities also seized the machinery used in the operation. However, police added that some of them managed to escape the scene.

The arrested suspects have been shifted to the police station for further investigation. Meanwhile, Lyari’s Assistant Commissioner also arrived at the site to monitor the situation along with police teams.