The fire that broke out in a multi-story building on Karachi’s Sharea Faisal was brought under control after more than four hours on Friday. All 40 individuals, including the women, trapped on the building’s roof, were successfully rescued.

There were no casualties, but one firefighter was injured, according to rescue officials.

The fire erupted on the second floor of the Kashif Centre building and it quickly engulfed the entire structure. Initial reports suggest that a short circuit in the wiring sparked the blaze.

The building reportedly lacks emergency exits, allowing the fire to spread from the second floor to the upper levels. Several people are trapped inside and rescue operations are underway.

Chief Fire Officer Ishtiaq Ahmed stated that there were challenges in ascending the building and the fact that the structure was located on Sharea Faisal made it difficult to position the snorkel.

Fire brigade officials confirmed that the Kashif Centre building is 15 storeys high. Fire engines arrived promptly after receiving the alarm, and the fire had been contained.

The blaze was brought under control after a multi-pronged rescue and firefighting operation, according to the fire brigade.

The Fire Department received the emergency call around 10:45am and dispatched fire engines and rescue teams to the site. An aerial snorkel and seven fire trucks were engaged in the firefighting efforts while the rescue teams evacuated people from the burning building.

A witness who managed to escape the building reported that there was no emergency exit and that the fire spread rapidly through the electrical wiring. He also alleged that the fire brigade arrived late.

Rescue services chief Dr Abid Shaikh confirmed that the fire had started on the fifth floor and that the rescue operation was ongoing.

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“We have rescued around 55 to 60 people so far, and two firefighters have also been affected by the smoke and taken to the hospital,” Dr Shaikh said and added that the cause of the fire would be investigated once the operation is completed.

In February, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation informed the Sindh High Court that not a single commercial building – out of the 265 surveyed – was found to have a fire safety certificate or a no-objection certificate issued by the fire brigade department.