Three more bodies were recovered on Sunday from the debris of a building that fell in Karachi’s Gulbahar area earlier this week, bringing the death toll to 25.
On Thursday, the residential building had fallen on two adjacent structures, bringing them to the ground as well, killing 14 people and injuring at least 17 others. Since then, bodies of multiple victims have been retrieved from the debris while a boy was pulled out alive from the rubble on Saturday.
However, seven to eight people still remain trapped underneath the collapsed building, according to the spokesperson of Edhi Foundation Saad Edhi. “The rescue operation is ongoing and we have reached the ground floor. The rescuers have apprehensions some seven to eight people are still trapped […] they might be alive.” The spokesperson added that the area was congested so more heavy machinery could not be brought in to help with rescue efforts. A rescue team of the Pakistan Army cordoned off the area while the workers at the site said that the rescue operation is expected to be completed by Sunday evening.
A preliminary investigation suggested that the builder had allegedly carried out major excavation work at the foundation and tried to erect additional pillars to support the existing pillars. He did it to strengthen the building structure and prevent it from collapsing.
