Pakistan building collapse: 12 dead, 20 feared trapped; commissioner says it's residents' fault

The death toll in the building collapse in Karachi's Lyari neighbourhood climbed to 12, after rescue officials recovered three more bodies from the debris of a six-storey residential structure in Baghdadi, according to ARY News.

At least 19 people have been rescued so far from under the rubble, nine of them injured, including five women. While six of the injured have been discharged after treatment, three remain under medical care at SMBB Trauma Centre.

Karachi mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab confirmed that nine individuals died in the tragedy, eight on the spot and one at the hospital. He said that around 20 people are still feared trapped as rescue efforts continue round-the-clock.

Ignored warnings and official blame game

The building had long been declared "dangerous" by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), which claimed that repeated eviction notices had been issued.

Locals, however, disputed the SBCA's claims, alleging that no such formal warnings were communicated.

Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, who visited the site after 13 hours, laid blame on residents who continued living in unsafe structures.

City at risk: Hundreds of unsafe buildings still standing

According to ARY News, SBCA data reveals that Karachi currently has 578 buildings marked as unsafe, with District South holding the highest number of structurally compromised structures.

Officials also confirmed that an adjacent building to the one that collapsed has suffered structural damage and is now under observation.