- Nobody present inside the affected factory, says the fire chief.
- Official says cotton and plastic catch fire.
- Cracks appear in the walls of the factory due to fire, official says.
KARACHI: A massive fire broke out on Friday evening at a factory in Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Karachi’s Landhi area.
Firefighters and snorkelers have been called from across the port city to douse the third-degree blaze at the factory, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said.
“No one is present in the affected factory,” the chief fire chief said, citing reports.
Cracks started appearing in the walls of the affected factory due to the intense fire, the official said, adding that two snorkels from KMC are currently participating in the fire-fighting efforts, adding that one more snorkel has been called in.
“The intensity of the fire is high,” the chief fire chief said, adding that the fire department was working from all sides to bring the fire under control.
He said the factory contained cotton and plastic, which fueled the flames.
According to a spokesman for Rescue 1122, the fire broke out in a plastic factory in EPZ. The spokesman said the fire broke out on the ground floor and quickly spread to the first floor of the building.
Meanwhile, Sindh Superintendent of Police Javed Alam Odho ordered that the surrounding area be kept clear of traffic for the fire brigade and rescue teams.
The latest incident comes days after a fire broke out at Saddar’s mobile market, which was quickly brought under control by rescue teams.
Last month, the biggest fire in more than a decade broke out on January 17 at the Gul Plaza mall in Karachi and quickly spread through the sprawling complex, famous for its 1,200 family-owned shops selling wedding wear, toys, crockery and other goods.
Investigators had found that the fire started in a flower shop on the ground floor, caused by a child, and quickly spread through air conditioning (AC) ducts to other parts of the building. The tragic incident claimed at least 80 lives, with the majority of deaths occurring on the mezzanine.
