Gas Explosion Rips Through Apartment Building

At least 16 people are dead after a gas explosion destroyed an apartment building in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city.
The blast happened early Thursday, as people were preparing food before dawn on the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.

Rescue Efforts Continue

Police and rescue officials say they’re still searching for survivors trapped under the rubble.
Initially, 13 people were reported dead, but that number’s risen to 16 after more bodies were pulled from the debris.
It’s not clear what caused the explosion, but it’s likely due to the use of gas cylinders, which are common in Karachi.
The city’s gas supply is notoriously unreliable, so many households use cylinders as a backup.

Government Response

Pakistan’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, has expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and ordered authorities to provide the best possible treatment for the injured.
He’s also called for a thorough investigation into the blast to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This isn’t the first time a gas explosion has killed people in Pakistan – just last month, a blast at a wedding in Islamabad killed eight people.