At least 35 individuals sustained burn injuries when a fire erupted at a customs warehouse in Mastung, Balochistan province. The incident involved the explosion of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker at the Lakpass area on the Quetta-Karachi highway. The blaze started on Sunday and quickly spread to a parking area, consuming numerous vehicles before reaching the LPG tanker, as per reports by Pakistani daily Dawn.
“A bowser carrying LPG came under huge flames of fire and exploded in the parking area of the customs check post, which caused massive destruction,” an official mentioned. The fire damaged goods and items worth billions of rupees, with four of the injured individuals remaining in critical condition. The warehouse where the fire originated stored seized goods, including valuable smuggled items, and it soon spread to trucks, vehicles, and the LPG bowser parked nearby for clearance, leading to the explosion.
Emergency services promptly responded to the scene, transporting the injured to hospitals in Quetta. Firefighting efforts were hindered by the fire’s intensity and logistical obstacles. Despite the deployment of at least 10 fire tenders to control the blaze, challenges such as strong winds, the presence of flammable tankers, and limited access impeded the operation. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, as per Dawn reports.
In a separate development, a recent survey in Islamabad revealed that a significant number of buildings lacked fire safety certifications. This revelation followed a tragic incident at Karachi’s Gul Plaza mall, where 79 individuals lost their lives in a fire. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) conducted a survey in Islamabad, inspecting 6,500 buildings for fire safety and hazard control compliance. The survey highlighted that many buildings did not have approved fire safety plans or the necessary completion/fire safety certifications, including 300 government buildings.
