In a significant development for Karachi’s industrial landscape, a severe third-degree fire engulfed two plastic factories within the Landhi Export Processing Zone on Friday evening, prompting an immediate and coordinated response from authorities.
The blaze broke out at around 8 PM inside one of the factory units, rapidly intensifying and spreading to adjacent structures in mere minutes. The flames quickly rose above the roof, generating plumes of thick smoke that could be seen from a considerable distance, causing panic among nearby workers.
Witnesses recounted how the fire spread swiftly across the building’s three sides within just a few moments. In response to this unprecedented emergency, firefighting teams mobilized over ten units—ranging from standard fire trucks to specialized snorkel trucks—to engage in the battle against the flames.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan confirmed that the situation was dire, noting that the fire had encircled the factory from three sides. His team worked tirelessly around the clock, using various firefighting techniques such as containment and creating fire breaks to prevent further damage.
Firefighters employed a snorkel platform mounted on elevated equipment to approach the blaze head-on, while ground teams worked simultaneously to contain it from multiple angles. The priority was focused on maintaining temperature control over surrounding structures and preventing any potential spread of the flames.
The third-degree categorization highlighted the unprecedented nature of this emergency, with authorities emphasizing the critical need for swift action to manage the situation. Rescue officials confirmed that at least two units were affected by the fire.
Multiple firefighting resources including water tankers from several stations across Karachi arrived on scene, along with additional rescue workers and emergency protocols activated in various parts of the city. The fire’s intensity underscored the need for comprehensive resource allocation to ensure effective containment.
The incident revealed the combustible materials stored within the factories, which included plastic, accelerating the spread and increasing the fire’s ferocity. With no immediate reports of casualties and ongoing cooling and suppression operations, authorities were focused on stabilizing the situation before investigators could begin their probe into the cause of the blaze.
In the wake of this emergency response, the export processing zone has been cordoned off to allow for unhindered operation by firefighting teams. Authorities are expected to provide a full report on the incident once all details have been gathered and analyzed, ensuring such incidents are prevented in the future.