KARACHI: Authorities have temporarily paused efforts to douse the fire burning near Korangi Creek after intense heat made firefighting operations difficult, officials said on Saturday.
According to fire brigade personnel, the blaze broke out during a deep excavation, reaching around 1,200 feet underground, during the early hours of the day. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported. Officials also noted that the fire has remained largely stable, showing no major signs of intensifying or subsiding.
Despite nearly 10 hours of firefighting, officials have yet to determine the source or type of gas fueling the flames. While fire brigade officials confirmed the presence of a gas leak, they were unable to specify its type.
Officials admitted facing serious challenges in controlling the blaze.
Initially, the fire brigade attempted to control the blaze using water, but this backfired, as the heat intensified. Firefighters then switched strategies, opting to smother the fire by dumping soil and sand over it in an attempt to contain the flames.
Meanwhile, workers and others near the excavation site have been moved to safety.
However, an expert told Geo News that the leakage could be from a shallow underground gas reserve.
The matter will first be investigated by relevant authorities linked to the "zero gas factor," after which the Petroleum Division will conduct a further inquiry.
Authorities confirmed that there is no Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) pipeline or installation in the vicinity. The SSGC also issued an official statement, clarifying that it has no infrastructure near the site. However, the situation on the ground has neither worsened nor improved significantly.
Senior technical staff from the Military Lands Cantonment Karachi Region are also conducting a thorough inspection of the site.
Initially, firefighters attempted to douse the flames with water, but officials said this only intensified the heat. The strategy was later shifted to using soil and sand to smother the fire. More than 10 fire tenders along with multiple water tankers participated in fire extinguishing operation.
However, this too has proven ineffective, as the high gas pressure causes the flames to resurface.
Experts warn that without properly identifying the gas and its source, the risk of the fire reigniting remains high.
Earlier, Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi and Korangi Deputy Commissioner Masood Bhutto visited the site to review the situation. Speaking to the media, Hassan said that if a permit exists for such deep boring, it will be verified. He also assured that an investigation would be conducted to determine which authority granted permission for such deep boring.
According to a spokesperson for the Cantonment Board, the CEO of Cantonment Korangi has been present at the scene since last night when the incident began, overseeing the firefighting efforts.
The inferno, which was previously believed to have erupted out of a gas pipeline after being damaged during underground drilling, has proved extremely difficult to control.
Talking to Geo News, Senior Fire Officer Muhammad Zafar termed the fire "mysterious", saying that it could not be ascertained yet as to which pipeline had been affected.
"The fire is mysterious. We still do not know which pipeline this is," he said.
Zafar further said that attempts to douse the flames with water were proving ineffective. "We were spraying water on to the flames, but it kept bouncing back," Zafar explained.
Zafar suggested, saying, "The fire is bursting out from a crater that needs to be sealed with soil."
Given the scale of the fire, Zafar further recommended, "We may need to use a dumper truck or a helicopter to drop soil over the flames."
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) declared an emergency at the Landhi hydrant to ensure an uninterrupted water supply.
"The hydrants in-charge is in constant contact with the fire brigade and rescue teams to maintain the persistent supply of water," a KWSC spokesperson confirmed.
Governor Tessori has expressed serious concern over the situation, calling for immediate and effective action.
"We must take swift measures to control this fire," he said in a call to the Chief Fire Officer and engineers present on the site.
To further boost efforts, the governor assured fire officials that he would coordinate with relevant authorities to arrange a helicopter if needed to drop soil over the flames.
