- Blaze started around 9pm in a 4000-sq-yard factory.
- Official says old clothes, shoes, plastic fuelling flames.
- Cracks have appeared in factory walls due to heat: official.
KARACHI: A major fire broke out at a plastic factory in Karachi’s Landhi Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on Friday night, spreading to a second factory while a third nearby facility remained unaffected, officials said.
The blaze started around 9:00 pm in a factory covering 4,000 square yards, according to rescue officials.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said firefighting teams were tackling the fire from all sides, and its intensity had slightly reduced.
The affected factories stored used clothes, shoes, and plastic materials. More than 20 fire tenders from KMC, the Navy, and Rescue 1122, along with three KMC snorkels, were deployed to the site.
So far, 165,000 gallons of water have been supplied through local hydrants, with additional water tankers dispatched to support firefighting operations.
Khan confirmed that nobody was present in the affected factory and no casualties have been reported.
The fire broke out on the ground floor and quickly spread to the first floor of the building, according to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122. Karachi Commissioner added that all relevant agencies were on high alert and assured that adequate water supplies were available.
Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho ordered that the surrounding area be cleared of traffic to facilitate firefighting and rescue teams.
This incident comes days after a fire at Saddar’s mobile market, which was quickly contained.
Last month, the largest fire in more than a decade erupted at Gul Plaza shopping mall on January 17.
That fire, which started at a flower shop on the ground floor and spread through AC ducts, claimed at least 80 lives and destroyed the sprawling complex of 1,200 family-owned stores.
Authorities cited it as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and rapid response in preventing similar tragedies.
