KARACHI: At least seven people were rescued and taken to hospital after a massive fire gutted a garments factory in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, rescue officials said on Thursday.
The blaze broke out at the MashaAllah Factory, which processes imported second-hand clothing, and led to the building’s total collapse. The fire also spread to three neighboring companies located within the Landhi Export Processing Zone.
“Seven people sustained minor injuries and were shifted to hospitals,” said Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Sindh province.
“The fire, however, spread to other industrial units after collapsing one factory,” he added. “Fire has engulfed [the] whole building and spread to three more companies.”
Khan said the structure collapsed from the center and firefighting teams were working to control the blaze.
Pakistani television channels reported that additional fire tenders were being dispatched to the site as efforts to contain the flames continued. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Factory fires are common in Karachi, a city of over 20 million, where industrial zones often suffer from poor safety standards, lack of fire exits, and inadequate enforcement of regulations.
Despite past disasters, including the 2012 Baldia Town factory fire that killed more than 260 workers, industrial safety remains a persistent concern, putting thousands of laborers and residents at ongoing risk.
