Pakistan: Has the Death Toll in the Building Collapse Reached 27?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Death toll has risen to 27.
- Rescue operations are nearing completion.
- Building was marked unsafe prior to collapse.
- High-level committee formed to investigate the incident.
- Concerns raised about building safety regulations.
Karachi, July 6 (NationPress) The number of fatalities from the building collapse in Karachi, the southern port city of Pakistan, has tragically escalated to 27 as rescuers continue to recover additional bodies, as stated by a spokesperson from the state-owned rescue organization Rescue 1122 on Sunday.
Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan, the spokesperson for the operation, confirmed the increased toll to Xinhua, indicating that rescue operations are nearing completion with most of the debris now cleared.
Among the deceased, at least 15 women and three children have been identified, while three individuals remain in critical condition.
To aid in the operation, heavy machinery and advanced equipment have been utilized over a span of more than 48 hours, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Local officials revealed that the collapsed structure was constructed over 30 years ago and had previously been deemed unsafe.
A committee of high-ranking officials has been established to investigate the cause of the incident.
The tragic event unfolded when a five-storey residential building collapsed in Karachi's Lyari area on Friday, initially resulting in seven fatalities and injuring at least 10, as confirmed by police on July 4.
According to police reports, more than 30 individuals were trapped beneath the rubble after the collapse, prompting ongoing rescue efforts to locate those still missing.
Authorities are employing heavy machinery to assist in clearing the debris of the dilapidated structure, which had previously been flagged as unsafe. As a precaution, adjacent buildings have also been evacuated.
Eyewitnesses described experiencing several tremors that residents initially thought were an earthquake, prior to the building collapsing suddenly after hours of intermittent shaking.
Following the disaster, local authorities cordoned off the area, transporting all victims to a nearby hospital, where several are reported to be in serious condition.