Blaze in Karachi timber market controlled

Published December 28, 2014
Fire erupts in Karachi's timber market.  — DawnNews screengrab
Fire erupts in Karachi's timber market. — DawnNews screengrab

KARACHI: A fire that swept into a local timber market in Karachi's Old Haji Camp in the wee hours of Sunday was tended by fire fighters, DawnNews reported.

The process of cooling was under way. No casualties have been reported as yet.

The fire was rated a category three and had spread over a large area, engulfing nearby buildings in the densely populated locality.

At least six fire tenders had been called in to douse the blaze which had spread to the nearby residential Soomro Gali and surrounding shops.

Eyewitnesses said that the fire initially started in one building shortly after midnight, but quickly spread to dozens of nearby buildings.

The local residents came out of their houses following an emergency announcement from the local mosque, but some people were said to have been trapped inside their buildings due to the flames.

According to DawnNews, firefighters were currently engaged in attempts to extinguish the fire, but were facing problems due to the narrow lanes and close proximity of other buildings in the locality.

It was still unclear what had caused the fire to erupt, and officials said that anything in this regard could only be determined after a thorough investigation.

The Old Haji Camp area houses several commercial warehouses where timber is stored for the furniture manufacturing industry. The warehouses are surrounded by a densely populated residential area.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...