A powerful explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Karachi, Pakistan, left at least four people dead and more than 30 others injured on Thursday, police confirmed.
The blast, which struck the country’s largest city and financial hub, triggered a massive fire that spread to nearby shops. Several smaller explosions followed, forcing residents to flee the area in panic.
The force of the explosion shattered windows in surrounding shops, scattering glass across the busy street and injuring passersby.
Karachi, home to over 20 million people, was already reeling from heavy monsoon rains the previous day that had flooded parts of the city.
Police official Sumaiya Tariq said that at least 34 people were taken to the hospital, with four succumbing to their injuries overnight.
Local television footage showed thick plumes of smoke rising from a multi-storey building as firefighters battled the blaze. CCTV footage aired by Geo News captured people running for safety and motorists hastily reversing their cars to escape the scene.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, as concerns grow over fire safety standards in densely populated urban areas of Pakistan.
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