A massive fire broke out at a chemical warehouse in the Rasheedabad neighbourhood on Wednesday, causing chemical drums stored inside the facility to explode with loud blasts.
No casualties were reported, and firefighters brought the blaze under control after nearly two hours of firefighting. The incident occurred within the limits of the SITE-A police station in Baldia Town. The police, fire brigade teams from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Rescue 1122 firefighters, and Edhi ambulances rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the fire.
According to a fire brigade spokesperson, the blaze erupted in a chemical warehouse located on the ground floor of a three-storey building. As the fire spread, chemical drums stored inside exploded repeatedly, intensifying the blaze and creating panic in the area.
The explosions caused the roof and walls of the watchman’s room inside the warehouse to collapse. One side of the warehouse wall also caved in, burying several motorcycles parked nearby under the debris.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control. Cooling operations continued for more than an hour to prevent the fire from reigniting. The spokesperson said seven fire tenders and one water bowser were used to extinguish the fire.
Preliminary investigations suggested that the fire was caused by a short circuit. The blaze completely destroyed the chemicals and other goods stored inside the warehouse. According to fire officials, the same Shahid Sultan Chemical Warehouse had also caught fire approximately two months ago.
