Terrifying moment six-storey apartment block in Karachi collapses ’40 minutes’ after it was evacuated when cracks were spotted in the building
- Al-Ramzan Tower in Karachi, Pakistan, was evacuated on Monday 30 December
- Onlookers stare up at the building and yell seconds before it crumbles to ground
- Authorities evacuated block ’40 minutes’ after reports of cracks in the walls
This is the moment a six-storey apartment block crumbled to the ground sending residents fleeing in terror.
The Al-Ramzan Tower in Karachi, Pakistan, was evacuated on Monday 30 December ’40 minutes’ after reports of cracks appearing in the walls.
Footage shows people staring up at the building and yelling, seconds before it collapses to the ground.
The six-storey Al-Ramzan Tower in Karachi, Pakistan seconds before it crumbled to the ground (left). Onlookers flee in terror as the tower crumbles to the ground (right)
Suddenly the apartment block folds in on itself causing plumes of smoke to billow out between the narrow streets.
The clouds of dust make their way through the houses as onlookers rush from the dust that has flooded the area.
Authorities ensured that all residents were evacuated from the block and officers cornered off the building following reports that the walls had cracked and the building had tilted.
Residents watch the terrifying tower collapse in on itself (left). Clouds of smoke and dust floods the narrow street (right)
A police officer told Dawn: ‘Forty minutes later the building collapsed but no one was injured.’
Birds circle above after the tower block disintegrates into the ground
The building that was declared ‘dangerous’ for residential or commercial purposes housed 19 families and also had two shops.
It was constricted 16 years ago in violation of the Sindh Building Control Authority rules in 2004.
And because of its depleting status over the years, authorities had cut off the electricity supply and gas connection.
Officer Jamal Leghari said the rubble would take up to five days to clear and an inquiry was launched into the construction of the building directed to the SBHA and commissioner.
A fire had reportedly broke out in the building in 2014 and authorities are in the process of tracing the builder responsible.
No one was injured in the incident but Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi said strict action would be taken against those who were accountable for the unfit building.