A blast at a fireworks storage facility in Karachi, Pakistan's southern port city, on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and left over 30 others injured, as reported by local police.
The explosion ignited a fire that consumed the warehouse along with several adjacent shops and damaged vehicles in the vicinity of Jinnah Road.
Witnesses stated that the force of the blast shattered windows in nearby buildings, sending shards of glass into the streets and prompting pedestrians to flee for safety.
What led to the explosion?
Authorities have not yet established the official cause of the initial blast.
A spokesperson for the Karachi police informed Germany's DPA news agency that raw materials for fireworks were being stored illegally at the site of the incident. Police have arrested two owners of the warehouse.
"It is estimated that over 50 kilograms of raw material may have been kept in the basement. This material is used for making fireworks, as well as explosives," another spokesperson from Karachi's anti-terror unit stated.
The explosion on Thursday bears resemblance to a blast that occurred in January at a fireworks storage facility in the eastern Punjab province, which resulted in six fatalities.
As the financial hub of Pakistan and home to more than 20 million people, Karachi often faces challenges related to infrastructure and safety.
