ISLAMABAD, July 4 – A five-storey residential building collapsed in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Friday, killing seven people and leaving at least 10 injured, police officials said.
The police officials in the area told Xinhua that over 30 people were trapped under the debris after the building collapsed in Lyari area of Karachi, and rescue efforts are underway to recover the remaining individuals.
The officials said that heavy machinery is being used to help in the removal of the rubble of the dilapidated building, which had already been marked unsafe by authorities, adding that the two adjoining buildings have also been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The eyewitnesses said that the building collapsed following several jolts that residents mistook for an earthquake, adding that it suddenly came crashing down after a couple of hours of intermittent shocks.
Following the incident, authorities cordoned off the area, and all the victims were shifted to a local hospital, where several people are said to be in critical condition.
A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident.
XINHUA
