Death Toll From Karachi Factory Fire Reaches 289

[News_Editor]

Death toll from Karachi factory fire reaches 289 < br />

2012-09-13 13:43:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

KARACHI, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A fire broke out at a clothing factory in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on late Tuesday, killing 289 people in one of the world's worst fire disasters in modern history, local authorities said on Thursday. A separate fire at another factory in Pakistan killed 25 others.

The blaze erupted on late Tuesday at the Hub River Road Garments Factory in Karachi and engulfed the multi-story building within minutes. Hundreds of workers were trapped inside the building because there were no emergency exists and windows had been barred with iron grills.

On late Wednesday, more than a day after the blaze erupted, Karachi Commissioner Roshan Ali Shaikh said the death toll stood at 289. Authorities said the blaze was extinguished by Thursday morning and water had been pumped out of the building's basement, with no additional victims found.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said the fire department reached the scene within 10 minutes and was able to rescue around 35 workers by cutting the iron grills on the windows. Fire tenders from the Pakistan Navy, Karachi Port Trust, Civil Aviation Authority and Pakistan Railway were also called to the scene to assist.

Hussain Syed, who described the blaze as a national tragedy, promised the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will pay for all costs relating to the funerals of the victims. He said graves have been prepared at different graveyards across the city and said medical facilities are being provided to the injured.

The fire in Karachi came just hours after a blaze broke out at a shoe factory employing around 100 people in the Gulshan-e-Ravi area of Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab. At least 25 people were killed, including the factory owner and his son, while six others were taken to hospitals in critical condition.

Authorities said the fire in Lahore was caused by an exploding electric generator, setting fire to fifteen chemical drums. It took more than twelve fire brigades to extinguish the intense fire which took place in the Band Road area, where several factories operate illegally and lack safety facilities.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-09-13

[meatboy]

another tragedy where profits are put before lives,it would be interesting to know who the factory was making clothes for,300+workers not a small concern for a shift.

[koheesti]

another tragedy where profits are put before lives,it would be interesting to know who the factory was making clothes for,300+workers not a small concern for a shift.

Totally Irrelevant. Profits don't matter one iota when the building has "no emergency exists and windows had been barred with iron grills". What does matter is the complete disregard in some cultures for basic safety. Wasn't there a hotel fire in BKK a few years back where people died because the emergency exit was locked? Was that also because of profit (code word for "capitalist greed")? Fact is, many places outside the West have insufficient emergency exits and tend to lock doors and windows - sometimes with chains. I'm sure everyone posting here has stories they could tell. But it's not only in developing countries. Even at a modern cinema in EU Estonia they would lock the auditorium doors during the movie. If you wanted to get out you had to mess around in the dark to find the deadbolt. Imagine doing that during a fire with smoke and panic everywhere?

Edited September 14, 2012 by koheesti

[meatboy]

another tragedy where profits are put before lives,it would be interesting to know who the factory was making clothes for,300+workers not a small concern for a shift.

Totally Irrelevant. Profits don't matter one iota when the building has "no emergency exists and windows had been barred with iron grills". What does matter is the complete disregard in some cultures for basic safety. Wasn't there a hotel fire in BKK a few years back where people died because the emergency exit was locked? Was that also because of profit (code word for "capitalist greed")? Fact is, many places outside the West have insufficient emergency exits and tend to lock doors and windows - sometimes with chains. I'm sure everyone posting here has stories they could tell. But it's not only in developing countries. Even at a modern cinema in EU Estonia they would lock the auditorium doors during the movie. If you wanted to get out you had to mess around in the dark to find the deadbolt. Imagine doing that during a fire with smoke and panic everywhere?

what do you mean[totally irrelevant] if this factory was producing for a large clothing chain it should be made public.according to the news the building had not been inspected for 5years and conditions and safety were non existent,i having been in the clothing trade thought this kind of working practice was supposed to be cleaned up obvious in this case it has not,corruption seems to be the case as with most tragedy's of this nature.the fire you mentioned in bkk.was at the santika night club operating illegally.so will anything happen only if this factory was making for some big chain then heads will roll,if not same same again.

[Credo]

There have been a number of fires in Thailand, but I think one of the biggest fires that was similar to this one was the Kadar doll factory (not sure of the exact name or spelling). Exits were locked and a lot of people died.