SBCA declares 740 buildings hazardous ahead of monsoon
The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has identified 740 dangerously dilapidated buildings across the province - 588 of which are in Karachi - as uninhabitable due to the looming threat of structural collapse during the monsoon season.
The SBCA has issued fresh evacuation notices to residents, warning that these century-old structures are at high risk of partial or complete collapse in heavy rains.
However, many occupants have refused to vacate, citing the buildings' prime locations in city centres, which provide easy access to essential services.
A huge number of these structures house families of migrants from 1947, who, unable to afford alternative housing, continue to live in the same properties their elders had occupied after Partition.
In preparation for monsoon-related emergencies, the SBCA has established 24/7 Rain Emergency Centres at its Karachi headquarters and regional offices in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, and Larkana.
These centres, operating under the direct supervision of SBCA Director General Muhammad Ishaq Khuhro, are staffed with technical teams working in three shifts to ensure immediate response to building collapses or other rain-induced disasters.
The authority has also launched an awareness campaign, using loudspeakers and banners in high-risk areas, urging residents to evacuate. "Rainwater seepage further weakens already compromised foundations, increasing the risk of collapse. Electrical short circuits leading to fires are another major concern," warned DG Khuhro.
The SBCA made a final appeal to residents, stressing that continued occupancy of these buildings poses a severe threat to life and property.
The authority has assured that it is coordinating with rescue services and relevant departments to handle any emergencies promptly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
40 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Heavy rain hits China's flood-stricken Guizhou for second time in a week
SHANGHAI: Heavy rain struck China's southwestern Guizhou province again on Saturday, half-submerging the already flood-stricken riverside city of Rongjiang for a second time this week and prompting the evacuation of residents to higher ground. Located at the confluence of three rivers and home to 300,000 residents, Rongjiang was inundated earlier this week by record downpours that left six dead and forced more than 80,000 people to flee their homes. The amount of rain that fell over 72 hours was double the city's average for June. In response to the new round of flooding, authorities raised the city's flood emergency response level to the highest level on Saturday. The benchmark hydrological station on one of the rivers estimated that the peak water level would hit 253.50 metres (832 ft) at around 5 p.m. (0900 GMT), exceeding the safety threshold by 2 metres, state broadcaster CCTV said. More than 40,000 residents in Rongjiang had been urgently evacuated as of 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday, according to the state broadcaster. Over 80,000 people flee severe flooding in southwest China Earlier this week, the peak water level reached 256.7 metres, the highest since 1954, the Guizhou provincial government said in a statement to Reuters on Friday, blaming 'the extreme climate' for the flooding. The floods in southwest China are set to hit local economies. Rongjiang was removed from the national poverty list in 2020. It then saw an unexpected tourism boom after a local soccer league nicknamed 'Village Super League' became a social media sensation, attracting thousands of fans and tourists. On Tuesday, the soccer pitch was up to seven metres under water. China has battled with summer floods for millennia, but some scientists say climate change is resulting in heavier and more frequent rain. Massive flooding could set off unforeseen 'black swan' events with dire consequences, such as dam collapses, Chinese officials say. In southern China over the past two days, 13 major rivers in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi and Hainan were hit by storms and had risen above their warning levels, CCTV reported, citing the Ministry of Water Resources on Saturday.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
China expands compensation for flood-hit communities
A drone view shows buildings and roads are half submerged in floodwaters after heavy rainfalls, in Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, China June 24, 2025. China Daily via REUTERS/File Photo China has expanded the economic safeguards for segments of its population affected by flood control schemes in times of extreme rainfall, including pledges of direct compensation from the central government and payments for livestock losses. In China, diverting flood-waters to areas next to rivers is a major step in managing downstream flooding. As extreme rainfall grows in frequency, China is increasingly utilising such areas, some of which have been unused until now and have been populated by farms, croplands and even residential buildings, stoking social tensions. According to revised rules on compensation related to flood diversions released late on Friday, the central government will now bear 70% of all compensation funds, with local governments responsible for the rest. Previously, the ratio was to be decided based on actual economic losses and the fiscal situation of local governments. Livestock and poultry that cannot be relocated in time before the arrival of diverted flood-waters will also be included in the compensation scheme for the first time. Previously, only the loss of working animals could be claimed for compensation. Read: Cyclone threat looms as southern China battles widespread flooding In the summer of 2023, almost 1 million people in Hebei, a province on the doorstep of Beijing, were relocated after record rain forced authorities to divert water from swollen rivers to some populated areas for storage, triggering anger over the homes and farms sacrificed to save the Chinese capital. China currently has 98 designated flood diversion areas spanning major river basins including the Yangtze River basin, home to a third of the country's population. During the 2023 Hebei floods, eight flood storage areas were used. Since the start of the East Asia monsoon in early June, precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze has been up to two times higher than usual, officials from the China Meterological Administration told reporters on Friday. In other parts of China, daily rainfall measured by 30 meteorological stations in provinces such as Hubei and Guizhou broke records for the month of June, they said. Guizhou was the focal point of China's flood alleviation efforts this week, with one of its cities hit by flooding on a scale that meteorologists said could only happen once in 50 years, and at a speed that shocked its 300,000 residents. That prompted Beijing to issue pledges on Thursday to move vulnerable populations and industries to low-flood areas and allocate more space for flood diversion.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Karachi's weather update: Weather turns pleasant as rainfall continues
Karachi experienced a welcome change in weather on Saturday morning, with rain showers bringing relief across several parts of the city. The rainfall, which began early in the day, has ended a prolonged spell of intense heat, providing a much-needed respite for residents. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast intermittent rain and thunderstorms throughout the day, especially after noon. Temperatures are expected to peak at 31°C, with high humidity levels remaining around 90%. Winds are blowing from the northeast at 10 km/h, contributing to the cool yet damp conditions. The PMD has also predicted thundershowers for other cities in Sindh, including Hyderabad, Dadu, Badin, and Sukkur. The ongoing westerly system is expected to bring thunderstorms, gusty winds, and more rain to the region until June 29. In Karachi, the highest rainfall recorded so far has been 16mm in Surjani Town, followed by 7.4mm in North Karachi and 6.1mm in Orangi Town. The Met Office has issued a warning that another monsoon system will likely affect Sindh around July 5 or 6. The PMD spokesperson noted that the southern parts of Karachi are currently under cloud cover, which could lead to heavier rainfall later in the day. Residents are advised to remain cautious on the roads, as wet conditions could lead to slippery surfaces.
