Death toll in Lyari building collapse reaches 11

KARACHI: Death toll in they Lyari building collapse has reached 11, Sindh rescue chief confirmed, saying that rescue operation is in full swing to recover the trapped inmates.

Director-General of Sindh Emergency Service Rescue 1122 Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh further said that nine people injured in the incident, who are receiving medical treatment at Civil Hospital.

The residential building collapsed in Layari area of Karachi on Friday morning. So far rescue officials have recovered 11 bodies.

The DG further said that civil administration and paramilitary forces are joint carrying out the rescue operation. “We have overcome the challenge of poor lighting, and narrow streets, and have succeeded in reaching to the first floor of the building.”

Earlier, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, during his visit to the building collapse site, told media that 24 to 25 people are still buried under the rubble, and rescue operations are underway to recover them safely.

He said eight people including three women have also been rescued, out of which one is said to be in serious condition. The injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital.

A five storey building in Baghdadi, Lyari has collapsed. Relief and rescue work is on going. Will keep everyone posted

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) July 4, 2025

Expressing sorrow over the disastrous event, he said efforts are being made to recover the stranded people and to provide them with better medical facilities.

The recovered seven bodies include a woman and two men, identified as Waseem, Prem and Hoor bai.

The building located in Baghdadi area in Layari. It had five floors, housing residential flats. One of its sections collapsed, where six families were residing. A portion of two other adjacent buildings have also collapsed.

Rescue officials have said that there are fears that more people are still trapped under the rubble. Due to the densely populated area, the rescue officials are facing extreme difficulty in getting heavy equipment to the site as well as in the rescue operation.

According to residents of the area, the building was in a depleted condition, but no notices were ever sent for its evacuation by the building control department.

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GOVERNOR SINDH EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER BUILDING COLLAPSE

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has expressed deep concern over the tragic incident of a residential building collapse in Layari

In a statement issued on Saturday, Governor Tessori directed all rescue agencies to carry out immediate, effective, and coordinated relief operations at the site.

لی مارکیٹ، لیاری میں رہائشی عمارت گرنے کے افسوسناک واقعے پر شدید رنجیدہ ہوں۔
ریسکیو اداروں کو فوری اور مؤثر کارروائی کی ہدایت دی ہے۔ تمام وسائل بروئے کار لا کر متاثرہ افراد کو فوری مدد فراہم کی جائے۔ کوئی کوتاہی برداشت نہیں کی جائے گی۔ pic.twitter.com/t8RlF0K4Yj

— Kamran Tessori (@KamranTessoriPk) July 4, 2025

He stressed that all available resources must be utilised to safely rescue those trapped under the debris.

The governor also instructed authorities to ensure prompt medical treatment for the injured and to provide all possible support to the affected families.

He warned that any form of negligence or carelessness in rescue or response efforts will not be tolerated.

LG MINISTER BLAMES ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION MAFIA

Sindh Minister for Local Government and Housing Town Planning Saeed Ghani laid the blame for the tragic incident on what he called the “illegal construction mafia.” They are putting people’s lives at risk, he said, and urged the citizens not to waste their hard-earned money at the hands of this mafia.

Defending his ministry, he claimed several buildings in the city have been declared dangerous and notices were issued to residents repeatedly to vacate them.

وزیر بلدیات سندھ و صدر PPP کراچی سعید غنی بغدادی لیاری پہنچے، گرنے والی عمارت پر ریسکیو آپریشن کا جائزہ لیا اور ریسکیو حکام کو ہدایت جاری کیں۔
"ہماری اولین ترجیح ملبے تلے دبے افراد کو
بحفاظت نکالنا ہے"#saeedghani #viralvideo #foryou #fyp #foryoupage pic.twitter.com/LwqinnbJy2

— PPP Digital Karachi (@DigitalKhiPPP) July 4, 2025

“Notices to vacate several buildings in this area have also been issued,” he claimed.

However, residents of the area have rejected the minister’s claims, stating that no notices were ever issued for vacating this “crumbly building”.

Saeed Ghani said assured that steps would be taken to prevent such incidents by identifying those responsible. “Even today, the director, deputy director and relevant officers have been suspended,” he added.

He also offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the incident.