Fire erupt at fireworks warehouse in Karachi, 22 injured
A powerful explosion ripped through a fireworks warehouse on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road on Wednesday, sparking a massive fire that left at least 22 people injured, according to rescue officials. The blast was so strong that it shattered the windows of nearby buildings and damaged multiple vehicles and rickshaws parked in the area, creating panic across the busy commercial hub.
Firefighters from the Karachi Fire Brigade rushed to the scene, with more than 12 fire tenders deployed to contain the blaze. Chief Fire Officer Muhammad Humayun Khan confirmed that around 70 to 80 percent of the fire had been brought under control, but the intensity of the explosion and the hazardous nature of fireworks made the operation extremely challenging.
Rescue officials said that eight of the injured suffered severe burn wounds, while 13 were shifted to Jinnah Hospital and seven to Civil Hospital Karachi for urgent treatment. Heavy contingents of Karachi police and Rangers cordoned off the site, while SSU commandos joined the operation to evacuate residents trapped on the roof of the burning building.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grave concern over the incident, stressing that highly dangerous fireworks material should never be stored in residential or commercial areas. He directed the Karachi Commissioner to provide continuous updates until the fire was fully extinguished. SSP South Mahzoor Ali added that the fireworks shop had been operating in the vicinity for a long time, and many victims sustained injuries from shattered glass in surrounding buildings.
The tragic incident has once again raised questions about Karachi’s safety regulations and the unchecked operation of fireworks warehouses in densely populated areas. Citizens and civil society groups are now calling for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards to prevent such disasters.
This tragedy comes just days after another massive fire in Karachi’s Landhi export Processing Zone, where a factory was reduced to rubble after a third-degree blaze spread across adjoining factories, putting hundreds of lives at risk. Firefighting teams worked tirelessly to contain that fire as well, highlighting the city’s recurring challenges with industrial and commercial safety.
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