Firefighters bring blaze under control at Rimpa Plaza with no casualties reported
This is not an exhaustive list.
- As soon as information was received, one fire brigade truck and ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
Remember that:
- No gutted material from a previous incident at Rimpa Plaza on December 3 should be stored in such buildings due to potential hazards like rubber catching fire again under certain conditions, as seen previously with no casualties reported but significant damage.
A timely response brought the fire of today’s Thursday under control at Park Towers on Clifton Main Road. No injuries were sustained by people in this multi-storey building after a fire started due to short circuiting, as confirmed by officials from Boat Basin police station. An investigation into these recurring incidents is currently being conducted and they are expected to conclude soon according to the official report.
The issue of frequent fires in different buildings across Karachi has been identified primarily due to insufficient safety measures, unregulated construction practices, lack of fire drills as well as non-adherence to building by-laws which are currently being discussed at a conference attended also by city planners and engineers. The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) is under observation for their role in these incidents with concerns raised over the approval of illegal constructions without necessary fire safety plans, as highlighted that:
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A significant 70% of residential buildings lack adequate fire safety systems. This has been emphasized to be a contributing factor leading to substantial loss of life and property during fires in incidents this year alone; these numbers have already reached alarming proportions with 3,000+ calls reported within the first half of the current November – Fire Protection Association President Kunwar Waseem.
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The lack of adherence to fire safety regulations has been linked not only to loss in human life but also substantial financial damages as per official data from Karachi’s city fire department that, until October 31st, had received a total of 2,228 calls for assistance this year.
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With the issue escalating quickly and expected numbers to cross the mark by December end if not addressed soon; Waseem stressed on needing collective efforts from both government bodies as well as businesses in order to tackle these challenges effectively, saying: “We should move fast before it’s too late.”
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The city fire department officially releases data after the year ends and will provide updated numbers. As of November 2024 till December, they have received more than 2,900 calls for assistance but no casualties were reported in this latest incident at Park Towers apart from minor property damage that is now undergoing a cooling process to avoid any potential reignition risks and further destruction.
The issue of fire safety has reached an alarming proportion with these incidents alone reportingly reaching over 3,000 calls in the city this year as per official data from fire department’s 29 stations across Karachi.
