Five firefighters injured battling while extinguishing fire in Karachi factory

KARACHI: A raging fire broke out at a factory in the Landhi Industrial Area on Sunday, injuring at least five firefighters as they worked to extinguish the blaze.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, flames erupted in a factory located in the Landhi Export Processing Zone early in the day and quickly spread to three nearby factories due to the presence of combustible materials.

Officials said a portion of the affected building collapsed, injuring the firefighters, and added that the blaze had been declared a “third-degree” fire.

Rescue officials stated that the injured firemen from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) were immediately taken to the hospital, with one reported to be in critical condition. They noted that the factory contained a stock of clothes, chemicals, and other materials, while the cause of the blaze had yet to be determined.

The emergency service department reported receiving information about the blaze at 4:50 am. A total of 14 fire tenders, two snorkels, and a bowser were deployed to the scene to carry out the rescue operation.

Authorities declared the buildings affected by the blaze unsafe. The service’s chief operating officer informed the media that dense smoke and a shortage of water were causing difficulties in the rescue operation.

Last month, a fire broke out at a garments factory near Murtaza Chowrangi in Landhi, destroying inventory worth millions of rupees. The flames erupted suddenly in the multi-storey factory and quickly intensified, prompting police and rescue teams to respond immediately.

Firefighters used smoke injectors to ventilate the building and remove toxic fumes. After nearly three hours of continuous efforts, they brought the fire under control.