Nine dead as 5-storey building collapses in Karachi's Lyari area

At least nine people died and several others were injured after a five-storey building collapsed in Karachi's Lyari area on Friday, officials said.

- Tariq Butt | Agencies

Rescuers were using heavy machinery to search for several survivors believed to be trapped under the debris, said Javed Nabi, a government administrator.

Residents said the building was located on a narrow street, making it difficult for rescue teams to bring in additional heavy equipment. Television footage showed rescuers removing the rubble and evacuating nearby buildings as a precaution.

Shankar Kamho, 30, a resident of the building who was out at the time, said around 20 families were living inside.

"I got a call from my wife saying the building was cracking and I told her to get out immediately," he told AFP at the scene.

"She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her 'this building will stand for at least 10 more years'. Still, my wife took our daughter and left. About 20 minutes later, the building collapsed."

Up to 100 people had been living in the building, senior police officer Arif Aziz told AFP. Saad Edhi, of the Edhi welfare foundation that is part of the rescue operation, told AFP there could be "at least eight to IO more people still trapped," describing it as a "worn-out building."