Karachi (Gurpreet Singh) – A devastating gas cylinder explosion tore through a multi-storey apartment building in Karachi on Thursday, February 19, 2026, leaving at least 16 people dead and many others injured. The blast occurred during the pre-dawn hours of the first day of Ramadan, as residents were preparing their suhoor (pre-fasting) meals.
The explosion took place on the first floor of a residential compound in the densely populated Soldier Bazaar area. The force of the blast caused a partial collapse of the structure, trapping several families under layers of concrete and debris.
Rescue Efforts and Victim Toll
Local police chief Rizwan Patel confirmed that the death toll rose from an initial count of 13 to 16 as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the wreckage. Among the deceased are several women and children.
- Search Operations: Rescuers and volunteers are continuing to sift through the rubble using heavy machinery and manual tools, as some residents remain unaccounted for.
- Medical Emergency: The injured have been rushed to nearby hospitals. President Asif Ali Zardari has issued directives to ensure the victims receive the best possible medical care.
Calls for Accountability
President Zardari expressed profound grief over the tragedy and has urged the Sindh provincial government to strictly enforce building safety codes and regulate the storage of gas cylinders in residential zones. Analysts point to the lack of infrastructure maintenance and high population density in the eastern part of Karachi as contributing factors to the severity of such accidents.
The incident has cast a shadow over the start of the holy month, with the local community in mourning as they bury the victims of the preventable disaster.
