Published on: August 22, 2025 1:35 AM
At least two people were killed and 34 others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a fireworks warehouse near Saddar Parking Plaza along MA Jinnah Road on Thursday afternoon.
The blast occurred around 3:30 pm in a ground-floor warehouse inside Al-Amena Plaza, where firecrackers and other explosive materials were stored for sale.
More than 30 people, many of them with burn injuries, were transported to Jinnah and Civil hospitals for treatment. Dr Nosheen Rizvi, Deputy Director of the Accident and Emergency Department at Jinnah Hospital, confirmed that 20 injured were brought to the facility, while 14 others were admitted to Civil Hospital.
Fire brigade teams responded promptly, deploying eight fire tenders, a snorkel, and a water bowser to control the fire and initiate cooling operations. Search efforts are ongoing to ensure no one remains trapped inside the building.
Raja Umar Khitab, an official from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), condemned the illegal storage of large quantities of fireworks and explosives in blatant violation of safety regulations. “This location had previously been raided, and two tons of explosives were seized during a crackdown on violations,” he said. “Legal action against the warehouse owner will follow.”
