Major blaze at Karachi EPZ plastic factories contained after 11-hour battle, say officials

• Blaze started around 8:40pm in 4000-sq-yard factory.
• Official says old clothes, shoes, plastic fuelling flames.
• Cracks have appeared in factory walls due to heat: official.
  

KARACHI: A major fire broke out on Friday night at a plastic factory in Karachi’s Landhi Export Processing Zone, quickly spreading to a nearby warehouse and a second factory, prompting 11 hours of intense firefighting before it was finally doused.

“The fire at the plastic factory and the warehouse storing old clothes and shoes is under control,” KMC Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan told Brackly News, adding that cooling could take three to four days to complete.

Officials said a third nearby facility remained unaffected.

More than 20 fire tenders from KMC, the Navy, and Rescue 1122, along with three KMC snorkels, were deployed to the site. 

So far, 165,000 gallons of water have been supplied through local hydrants, with additional water tankers dispatched to support firefighting operations.

Khan confirmed that nobody was present in the affected factory and no casualties have been reported.

The fire broke out on the ground floor of the factory at 8:40pm and quickly spread to the first floor of the building, according to a spokesperson for Rescue 1122. 

Karachi commissioner informed the media that all relevant agencies were on high alert and assured that adequate water supplies were available. 

Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho ordered that the surrounding area be cleared of traffic to facilitate firefighting and rescue teams.

In a late-night statement, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed concern over the factory fire, saying, “It is worrying that it has spread to two more factories.”

He said firefighting and safety checks should have been better after the Gul Plaza tragedy and directed authorities to take all steps to stop the fire and ensure proper arrangements in all factories and buildings.

This incident comes days after a fire at Saddar’s mobile market, which was quickly contained. 

Last month, the largest fire in more than a decade erupted at Gul Plaza shopping mall on January 17. 

That fire, which started at a flower shop on the ground floor and spread through AC ducts, claimed at least 80 lives and destroyed the sprawling complex of 1,200 family-owned stores. 

Authorities cited it as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and rapid response in preventing similar tragedies.