KMC office fire brought under control, cooling underway

KARACHI: A fire broke out at the KMC office on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, prompting the fire brigade to dispatch three fire tenders to the site.

The firefighting teams reached the scene promptly and brought the blaze under control. Cooling operations are currently under way. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Only yesterday, at least three people suffered minor injuries after a fire broke out at a clothing factory in Karachi’s Landhi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on Monday, with rescue officials saying the blaze continued for several hours and caused extensive structural damage. The factory imported used clothes, which were reconditioned and sold in the local market.

A large number of workers were inside when the fire started, but most managed to evacuate. Seven workers were still trapped when firefighters arrived and were later rescued. Three of them lost consciousness after inhaling smoke but suffered no burn injuries and were given first aid at the scene.

The factory, consisting of a ground floor and three upper storeys, was engulfed by the blaze. Around half of the building collapsed because of prolonged exposure to heat and fire, while the remaining structure was also badly damaged.

The fire also spread to an adjacent factory, causing serious damage to that building and destroying the goods stored at both facilities.

Sixteen fire tenders from Rescue 1122, the KMC Fire Brigade and the EPZ’s own firefighting system were deployed to battle the blaze. Edhi ambulances and volunteers also assisted in the rescue operation.

Officials said the timely evacuation prevented any fatalities. The exact cause of the fire will be determined after the blaze is fully brought under control and a formal investigation is conducted.

The incident comes amid recurring industrial and commercial fires in Karachi, often raising concerns over building safety, emergency exits, firefighting arrangements and enforcement of safety regulations. A major fire at a plastic factory in Landhi EPZ earlier this year also spread to nearby factories and took several hours to contain.