Karachi: The tragic collapse of a five-storey residential building in the Lyari area of Karachi has resulted in a rising death toll, now at 17, as authorities continue to recover bodies from the rubble, according to reports from local officials on Saturday.

So far, emergency teams have managed to rescue nine individuals who were injured, but there are concerns that an estimated 25 to 30 people may still be trapped under the debris, as highlighted by the Express Tribune.

The building, which accommodated six families, fell down early on Friday morning. Among the deceased are three women and a child, adding to the heartbreak of the incident.

This disaster has sparked widespread panic and distress in Karachi, a city already grappling with numerous buildings deemed unsafe for habitation.

Officials disclosed that the decades-old structure, situated in the densely populated Baghdadi area of Lyari, had been marked as unsafe three years prior. Despite this, residents remained in the building, and no enforcement actions were taken by authorities.

Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Khoso confirmed that notices were issued to the residents in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Out of 107 buildings identified as dangerous in the district, 21 are categorized as highly hazardous, with 14 already vacated.

As the search and rescue efforts continue beyond the 24-hour mark, Khoso mentioned that it could take an additional eight to ten hours to complete the operation.

He also noted that there are still 22 buildings in Lyari classified as extremely dangerous, with 16 having been evacuated.

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi has urged residents of the compromised buildings to relocate to prevent further tragedies.

"We cannot forcibly evict anyone," Naqvi stated, emphasizing the need for a meeting with the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) to address the issue of illegal constructions.