Balochistan customs warehouse fire injures 35 after LPG tanker explosion
Synopsis
A fire at a customs facility in Balochistan's Mastung district turned catastrophic when it triggered an LPG tanker explosion, injuring 35 people and destroying goods worth billions of rupees. The incident spotlights Pakistan's persistent fire safety failures — from highway customs posts to the capital's uncertified buildings.
Key Takeaways
At least 35 people were injured in a fire at a customs warehouse in Mastung, Balochistan on Sunday .
Four of the injured remain in critical condition; all were taken to hospitals in Quetta .
The fire triggered an LPG tanker explosion , destroying goods worth billions of rupees .
At least 10 fire tenders were deployed but faced challenges from strong winds, other flammable tankers, and narrow site access.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined .
A CDA survey of 6,500 buildings in Islamabad found most lacked fire safety certifications, highlighting systemic gaps across Pakistan.
At least 35 people suffered burn injuries after a fire broke out at a customs warehouse in the Mastung area of Pakistan's Balochistan province on Sunday, triggering the explosion of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker and causing widespread destruction, according to local media reports. Four of the injured remain in critical condition.
How the Fire Spread
The blaze originated at a customs facility in the Lakpass area, situated along the Quetta-Karachi highway, before rapidly spreading to an adjacent parking area. Several loaded trucks and vehicles were engulfed before the fire reached an LPG bowser parked nearby awaiting customs clearance.
"A bowser carrying LPG came under huge flames of fire and exploded in the parking area of the customs check post, which caused massive destruction," an official stated, adding that goods and items worth billions of rupees were destroyed in the blaze.
What Was Stored at the Facility
The warehouse was used by customs officials to store seized goods, including high-value smuggled items. The fire rapidly engulfed several loaded trucks and other vehicles before reaching the LPG tanker, dramatically escalating the situation. The Mastung Deputy Commissioner and other officials reportedly narrowly escaped the explosion.
Rescue and Firefighting Challenges
Emergency services reached the site and the injured were transported to hospitals in Quetta. At least 10 fire tenders were deployed in an attempt to control the blaze. However, strong winds, the presence of other flammable tankers nearby, and narrow access to the site severely hampered firefighting operations, according to reports. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Pakistan's Broader Fire Safety Concerns
The incident comes amid longstanding concerns about fire safety infrastructure across Pakistan. In February, a survey of 6,500 buildings in the capital Islamabad — conducted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) — found that the majority had not obtained approval for their fire safety plans, and completion and fire safety certifications for most buildings had not been issued.
The survey, which included an inspection of 300 government buildings, was initiated in the wake of the devastating fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza mall, which claimed the lives of 79 people. The findings were presented at a meeting chaired by CDA chairman Ali Randhawa at CDA headquarters. With the cause of the Mastung fire still under investigation, authorities are expected to face renewed scrutiny over safety protocols at customs facilities storing flammable goods.
Point of View
Including flammable materials, operate with minimal safety infrastructure, and the co-location of LPG tankers in the same parking area as seized cargo points to a regulatory blind spot. The CDA's own survey finding that most Islamabad buildings lack fire certifications suggests this is a national governance failure, not a provincial one. Until Pakistan enforces mandatory fire safety audits at high-risk facilities, incidents like Mastung will recur.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the fire at the Mastung customs warehouse in Balochistan?
A fire broke out at a customs facility in the Lakpass area along the Quetta-Karachi highway and rapidly spread to a parking area, where it triggered the explosion of an LPG tanker. The exact cause of the initial fire has not yet been determined, according to reports.
How many people were injured in the Balochistan customs warehouse fire?
At least 35 people suffered burn injuries in the fire. Four of the injured remain in critical condition and were transported to hospitals in Quetta.
What was stored at the Mastung customs warehouse?
The warehouse was used by customs officials to store seized goods, including precious and smuggled items. Several loaded trucks and an LPG bowser were also parked at the facility at the time of the fire.
Why were firefighting efforts hampered at the Mastung fire site?
At least 10 fire tenders responded but faced significant challenges including strong winds, the presence of other flammable tankers at the site, and narrow access roads that restricted movement of firefighting equipment.
What do the Mastung fire and the Islamabad building survey reveal about Pakistan's fire safety situation?
A CDA survey of 6,500 buildings in Islamabad found that the majority had not obtained fire safety plan approvals or completion certifications. The survey was prompted by the Gul Plaza mall fire in Karachi, which killed 79 people, and together with the Mastung incident highlights systemic fire safety failures across Pakistan.
