Search continues after Pakistan building collapse kills 16
Authorities said the building had been declared unsafe and eviction notices were sent to occupants over three years, but landlords and some residents told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they had not received them.
Residents reported hearing cracking sounds shortly before the apartment block crumbled around 10am on Friday in Karachi's impoverished Lyari neighbourhood, which was once plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous areas in Pakistan.
The death toll stood at 16 on Saturday, with 13 injured, according to Summiaya Syed, a police surgeon for the provincial health department.
"My daughter is under the rubble," 54-year-old Dev Raj told AFP at the scene.
"She was my beloved daughter. She was so sensitive but is under the burden of debris. She got married just 6 months ago."
Rescue teams worked throughout the night, and families said that at least eight people were still believed to be trapped as temperatures climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday morning.
A senior district government official, Javed Nabi Khoso,said that notices had been served in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to occupants.
"We don't want to impose our orders by force. We work in phases and send them notices to leave the building. They didn't take the notices seriously," he told AFP.
But Imran Khaskheli, an owner and resident watching the rescue operation on Saturday, denied receiving notices.
"Do you think we are out of our senses to stay in an unsafe building with our families?" he said.
He told AFP he had seen cracks in the pillars of the building early on Friday morning.
"I knocked on all the doors and asked families to leave immediately," he said, adding that around 40 families lived in the building but that many did not heed his warning.
More than 50 buildings in the district have been declared unsafe, with six evacuated since yesterday, according to Khoso.
'We are helpless'
Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh, leading the government's 1122 rescue service at the scene, told AFP the operation was expected to continue into Saturday evening.
Many of the victims are believed to be women, who are more likely to be at home during the day.
All six members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari's family were in their first-floor apartment when he left for work early in the morning.
"Nothing is left for me now -- my family is all trapped and all I can do is pray for their safe recovery," he said on Friday.
Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, told AFP her brother's family was also trapped under the rubble.
"It's a tragedy for us. The world has been changed for our family," she said.
"We are helpless and just looking at the rescue workers to bring our loved ones back safely."
Shankar Kamho, a 30-year-old resident, was out at the time when his wife called to say the building was cracking.
"I told her to get out immediately," he told AFP.
"She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her 'this building will stand for at least 10 more years'," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Search continues after Pakistan building collapse kills 16
KARACHI - Rescue teams in Pakistan worked in searing heat and humidity on Saturday to recover residents trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed, killing 16 people. Authorities said the building had been declared unsafe and eviction notices were sent to occupants over three years, but landlords and some residents told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they had not received them. Residents reported hearing cracking sounds shortly before the apartment block crumbled around 10am on Friday in Karachi's impoverished Lyari neighbourhood, which was once plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous areas in Pakistan. The death toll stood at 16 on Saturday, with 13 injured, according to Summiaya Syed, a police surgeon for the provincial health department. "My daughter is under the rubble," 54-year-old Dev Raj told AFP at the scene. "She was my beloved daughter. She was so sensitive but is under the burden of debris. She got married just 6 months ago." Rescue teams worked throughout the night, and families said that at least eight people were still believed to be trapped as temperatures climbed to 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday morning. A senior district government official, Javed Nabi Khoso,said that notices had been served in 2022, 2023 and 2024 to occupants. "We don't want to impose our orders by force. We work in phases and send them notices to leave the building. They didn't take the notices seriously," he told AFP. But Imran Khaskheli, an owner and resident watching the rescue operation on Saturday, denied receiving notices. "Do you think we are out of our senses to stay in an unsafe building with our families?" he said. He told AFP he had seen cracks in the pillars of the building early on Friday morning. "I knocked on all the doors and asked families to leave immediately," he said, adding that around 40 families lived in the building but that many did not heed his warning. More than 50 buildings in the district have been declared unsafe, with six evacuated since yesterday, according to Khoso. 'We are helpless' Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh, leading the government's 1122 rescue service at the scene, told AFP the operation was expected to continue into Saturday evening. Many of the victims are believed to be women, who are more likely to be at home during the day. All six members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari's family were in their first-floor apartment when he left for work early in the morning. "Nothing is left for me now -- my family is all trapped and all I can do is pray for their safe recovery," he said on Friday. Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, told AFP her brother's family was also trapped under the rubble. "It's a tragedy for us. The world has been changed for our family," she said. "We are helpless and just looking at the rescue workers to bring our loved ones back safely." Shankar Kamho, a 30-year-old resident, was out at the time when his wife called to say the building was cracking. "I told her to get out immediately," he told AFP. "She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her 'this building will stand for at least 10 more years'," he said.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Putin hits Ukraine with largest barrage of war after Trump call
KYIV (UKRAINE) - Russia launched its largest-ever drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight on Friday just hours after a telephone call between US and Russian presidents ended without any breakthrough. AFP journalists in the capital heard drones buzzing over Kyiv and explosions ringing out as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack. President Donald Trump said he had made no progress with Vladimir Putin on ending the war in a call, as the Kremlin insisted Russia would pursue its war aims. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as reports of the presidents' call emerged. "Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," Zelensky said on social media. "All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour," he added, urging the United States in particular to ramp up pressure on Moscow. He said that 23 people were wounded in the Russian barrage that the air force said included 539 Russian drones of various types and 11 missiles. A representative of Ukraine's air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion. - 'Complete disregard' - Overnight Russia attacks have escalated over recent weeks. An AFP tally shows Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June, as direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall. "Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on social media after the attack. In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station. Russian attacks escalated as concerns mount in Kyiv over continued delivery of US military aid, which is key to Ukraine's ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages. The US announced this week that it was reducing some deliveries of military aid to Ukraine, in what EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said was a clear signal that the bloc needed to "step up". Trump's view of the call with Putin was unusually bleak. After most of his previous five calls with Putin since returning to power in January he has given optimistic reports of progress towards a deal. But he has shown increasing frustration with Putin after an early pivot towards the Russian leader. Ukraine has also ramped up its drone strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building, the region's acting governor said.
Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Cartoon enrages Turkish protesters
ISTANBUL - Angry protesters rallied in Istanbul on Tuesday despite a heavy police presence, shouting threats following allegations that a satirical magazine had published a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed. Unrest began late Monday after Istanbul's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest of staff at LeMan weekly saying it had published a cartoon that 'publicly insulted religious values'. LeMan categorically denied the allegation, with its editor-in-chief telling AFP the image had 'nothing to do with the Prophet Mohammed'. But news of the warrant brought an angry mob of hardline Islamist protesters onto the streets, who clashed with police late into the night, an AFP correspondent said. A group called Islamic Solidarity Platform called another protest Tuesday, prompting police to shut Taksim Square and Istiklal, the city's busy shopping thoroughfare. The group of around 300 protesters shouted abuse at the magazine and chanted 'don't forget Charlie Hebdo ', referring to the 2015 attack on a Paris magazine when Islamist gunmen killed 12 people after it published caricatures lampooning the Prophet Mohammed. According to the correspondent, the protesters were far less aggressive than those who rallied on Monday night, when around 400 Islamist hardliners tried to storm a bar frequented by the magazine staff. 'Down with secularism, long live sharia (law)! Jihad, jihad, martyrdom!' they shouted while clashing with police, who fired tear gas and rubber bullets. 'No justification for violence' Publication of the image drew sharp condemnation from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who denounced it as a 'hate crime'. 'It is a clear provocation disguised as humour, a vile provocation,' he railed, saying the authorities had confiscated all existing copies of the offending issue. 'Those who are insolent towards our Prophet and other prophets will be held accountable before the law.' Monday's violence drew sharp condemnation from Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). 'There is no justification for such violence, which we strongly condemn,' he told AFP, saying it was 'hard to understand' why police did not intervene sooner and that the 'cartoonists' safety must take priority'. Overnight, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted images of the cartoonist, LeMan's graphic designer, its publisher and another staff member being roughly dragged away under arrest, prompting a rebuke from the Turkish rights group MLSA. 'Detaining cartoonists and subjecting them to mistreatment under the accusation of 'insulting religious values' over a cartoon is unlawful,' its co-director Veysel Ok wrote on X. 'Even if a non-violent image or statement disturbs, offends, or provokes a large part of society, it is still protected by freedom of expression.' Copies of the disputed cartoon posted online show two characters hovering in the skies over a city being bombed. 'Salam aleikum, I'm Mohammed,' says one shaking hands with the other who replies, 'Aleikum salam, I'm Musa.' 'Social lynching' Opposition leader Ozgur Ozel said he was shocked when he first heard the allegations but after looking at the image, said he quickly realised they were not true. 'Take a proper look: I see an angel who died in a bombardment in Gaza, with a halo and wings who encounters another angel also killed by a bomb … (but) Mohammad is a prophet, not an angel,' he said. 'I will not allow any disrespect to the Prophet Mohammed, but I won't remain silent about a social lynching based on a non-existant disrespect.' Speaking to AFP from Paris, LeMan editor-in-chief Tuncay Akgun said the image had been deliberately misinterpreted to cause provocation. 'In this work, the name of a Muslim who was killed in Israel's bombardments is fictionalised as Mohammed,' he said. 'This cartoon is not a caricature of Prophet Mohammed in any way,' he said, describing the arrest warrant as a 'systematic provocation and attack' on the decades-old satirical magazine.
