An explosion near Karachi Airport on Sunday night injured at least four people and caused widespread destruction, officials confirmed. The blast, which police believe was caused by a tanker explosion, set several vehicles on fire and sent plumes of smoke into the air, visible from different parts of the city, as reported by the Dawn.
Initial reports suggested the explosion was heard across various areas of Karachi, including North Nazimabad, II Chundrigar Road, and Karimabad.Television footage captured flames engulfing cars and dense smoke rising near Pakistan’s largest airport.
Dr Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), confirmed that four people were brought in with injuries, one of whom is in critical condition. Authorities have blocked off the area surrounding the blast site, and entry and exit points to the airport have been closed as a search operation is underway.
The provincial home minister, Zia Ul Hassan, said the explosion occurred on Airport Road and was in contact with local authorities to determine whether the incident was a deliberate attack to target passengers or an accident. “We need to ascertain the facts,” his office said in a statement.
Rescue teams, including personnel from Rescue 1122, reached the scene and worked to control the fire. Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah has called for the best medical care for the injured and requested a detailed report from the Sindh Police chief on the cause of the explosion.