In a gas explosion in Karachi in Pakistan, several deaths and injuries were killed. Estimates vary: according to the police, at least twelve people did not survive the blast, local authorities speak of at least fifteen deaths.
Pakistan police suspect the explosion was caused by a gas leak in a sewerage system beneath a bank building in Karachi, the country‘s largest city. The escaping gas caught fire due to an unknown cause.
An eyewitness, together with others, helped 15 people out of the rubble:
The bank building above the sewer drain where the explosion took place has been largely destroyed. Parked cars and a gas station opposite the building were also severely damaged.
Explosion experts are investigating the cause of the explosion. A police spokesperson said earlier that investigators did not rule out that the explosion was the work of militants. “We’ll come with more clarity as soon as they have completed their work,” he announced.