KARACHI: A major fire engulfed an old-clothes factory in Karachi’s Landhi Export Processing Zone on Monday, spreading to an adjoining industrial unit and causing part of the original building to collapse.
The blaze began on the ground floor of the three-storey factory before rapidly spreading upwards. Heavy smoke and the intensity of the flames prevented firefighters from entering the structure, forcing much of the operation to be conducted from outside.
Authorities classified the incident as a third-degree fire and deployed at least 11 KMC fire tenders, two water bowsers and a snorkel, with Rescue 1122 and other emergency teams joining the operation.
Two men and a woman suffered serious effects from smoke inhalation, with the woman taken to Jinnah Hospital. Police said all workers had been evacuated and no deaths had been reported.
Sindh Rangers personnel were deployed to cordon off the site, manage traffic and assist rescue teams, while authorities declared the affected factory unsafe and restricted access to the Export Processing Zone.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought details about the blaze and the damage caused.
The fire comes amid heightened concern over industrial and public-building fire safety following a series of deadly incidents in Pakistan, including last month’s PIMS hospital fire in Islamabad.