A tragic building collapse in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi has left at least 27 people dead, following days of intensive rescue efforts. 

The five-story structure crumbled on Friday in Lyari, a densely populated and historically neglected neighborhood near the Arabian Sea.

Officials confirmed Sunday that search and rescue operations had concluded with one final body recovered from the debris. 

Two injured survivors remain hospitalized—one in critical condition—while over a dozen others were treated for minor injuries.

Initial investigations revealed the building had originally been a three-story structure deemed unsafe for habitation in 2022. 

Instead of complying with evacuation orders, the owner allegedly added two more floors—raising serious questions about regulatory oversight. 

Authorities believe the illegal expansion occurred with the complicity of local building control officials.

Karachi, a sprawling metropolis of over 20 million people and the country's economic engine, is dotted with aging and structurally compromised buildings. Construction violations and lax enforcement continue to endanger lives, making collapses an all-too-common occurrence.

The Lyari tragedy echoes a similar incident from 2020, when a residential block in Golimar collapsed, killing 27 and injuring over 50. Urban experts have long warned that decades of neglect and unauthorized modifications make such disasters inevitable unless sweeping reforms are enacted.

As clean-up operations begin, public outrage mounts over the failure to prevent the catastrophe. Many are calling for criminal investigations and policy shifts to ensure safer living conditions in high-risk neighborhoods.

For now, Karachi mourns yet another preventable loss—underscoring the urgent need to tackle deep-rooted structural vulnerabilities and ensure accountability across its urban landscape.

Source: Agencies

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