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KARACHI: At least eight were injured when a massive fire erupted on Saturday morning at a chemical factory in SITE area of Karachi.
The fire erupted in Haroonabad area and has been declared a third-category blaze which is extremely dangerous. At least 12 fire tenders were dispatched to the area to put off the blaze which threatened to engulf the entire factory.
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) declared an emergency at fire hydrants in the city and fire stations have been alerted. Police reached the site of the incident while Rangers cordoned off the area.
Rescue teams have arrived at the site of the incident and the factory and adjoining godowns are being vacated. One factory employee suffered extreme burns. A petrol pump near the factory was closed down to stop the spread of the fire. A snorkel fire truck was also called for the rescue operation.
Station House Officer (SHO) Zawar Hussain told media the fire erupted in a cylinder warehouse located in Haroonabad and fire tenders were trying to put it out. Police and rescue officials were present at the site and the rescue operation was ongoing. No casualties have been reported so far while three injured men were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the fire. According to his spokesperson, the chief minister called Karachi Administrator Laeeq Ahmed and directed that the fire immediately be brought under control. He added that six fire tenders were being used to battle the fire.
After several hours of effort, the fire was eventually brought under control and a team of rescue officials went inside the factory and declared it had been clear. The three-storey building suffered severe damage in the fie and a team of the Sindh Building Control Authority will examine its condition.
