Fire Fighters Face Manpower, Resource Shortages In Pakistan’s Karachi

Key Highlights

• The fire was brought under control only after nearly 36 hours.
• Sindh police surgeon, Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that the death toll from the fire had risen to 30 as two more bodies were recovered on Wednesday from the rubbles of the nearly 45-year-old building.
• “We have been able to identify just 10 bodies as yet as the remaining bodies are badly burnt,” she said.
• For years citizens, civil activists, doctors, jurists, the media and opposition politicians have talked about the lack of proper civic facilities in the city but a few weeks after every tragedy, everything is forgotten.
• Karachi, a vibrant financial capital of Pakistan with over 20 million people is spread over 3,530 square kilometers but has just 57 fire engine trucks, 28 fire stations and five ladder trucks to deal with any fire emergencies.