Search continues as death toll from Lyari building collapse rises to 18

A five-storey residential building in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, Karachi—already deemed uninhabitable due to structural damage—collapsed on Friday, continuing rescue efforts into Saturday.  Rescue teams pulled bodies overnight, bringing the confirmed death toll to 18 (17 recovered & one during hospital treatment). Nine people were injured; six have been discharged, one remains critical.  Around 40 families lived in the building, with approximately eight individuals still feared trapped under the debris. Operations are hampered by narrow streets and crowds obstructing heavy machinery.  The building had received multiple “dangerous building” notices since October 2022, but residents reportedly ignored evacuation orders. Authorities have evacuated six other unsafe buildings nearby.  Officials vow accountability: the SBCA has suspended involved staff, the Sindh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee insists on reforms, and a high-level investigative committee has been formed to submit findings by Monday.