A gas explosion in an apartment building in Karachi, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, including women and children, on Thursday. Several people also sustained injuries.
Emergency services and rescue officials reported that the incident took place in Pakistan's largest port city. Local police chief Rizwan Patel stated that rescue teams are continuing to clear rubble and search for any individuals trapped under debris.
The explosion occurred as residents were preparing a pre-dawn meal, marking the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Most homes and apartment buildings in Karachi, similar to other parts of Pakistan, receive natural gas for cooking. However, due to low natural gas pressure, many households also utilize liquefied petroleum gas cylinders.
In July, a separate gas explosion in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, killed eight people, including a newlywed couple, following a wedding reception.