Karachi Building Collapse: Survivors Mourn Loss Amid Rubble and Uncertainty

Survivors of the devastating building collapse in Karachi’s Lyari district that claimed 27 lives are struggling to come to terms with their grief and the uncertainty of their futures. The five-storey residential structure, located in one of the city’s most densely populated and underprivileged areas, crumbled on Friday, leaving behind a scene of destruction—twisted steel, shattered concrete, and personal belongings such as schoolbooks, shoes, and sewing machines strewn across the wreckage.

By Monday, rescue officials confirmed the death toll had risen to 27, while dozens more were being housed in makeshift shelters following the evacuation of adjacent buildings that were deemed structurally unsafe.

“I grew up in that building. I knew every family who lived there,” said Imdad Hussain, a 28-year-old fisherman who lost seven relatives, including childhood friends and neighbors. “We’ve lost our home, our people. I don’t know how we’ll start again.” He is currently taking refuge with extended family.

Authorities confirmed that the building had been issued multiple evacuation notices since 2023, the most recent in late June. Provincial Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani stated that the Karachi commissioner has been directed to inspect 51 other structures identified as “extremely dangerous” in a bid to prevent further tragedies.

Residents Say Collapse Followed Violent Tremors

Eyewitnesses described the building shaking violently before collapsing into a plume of dust. The complex was home to nearly 100 residents from 12 families, many from minority and migrant backgrounds. An additional 50 families were displaced after three neighboring buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

Search and rescue operations, which began on Friday, concluded late Sunday. Emergency teams combed through the debris in a desperate effort to find survivors and recover the deceased.

Lakshmi, a school janitor who lived next door, recounted the moment her sister—who lived in the doomed structure—called her just before the collapse, saying the building was trembling. Though her sister survived, Lakshmi expressed concern over personal losses, including gold jewelry she had entrusted to her sibling ahead of her daughter’s upcoming wedding.

“We escaped with our lives, but everything else is gone,” she said. “There’s no clarity about what comes next.”

Local officials have pledged to support affected families, while calls are growing for stronger enforcement of safety regulations in Karachi’s aging residential sectors.