A four-storey residential building in Karachi’s Lyari Baghdadi area began to collapse on Tuesday, sparking panic among residents who rushed out of the structure, screaming for help.

According to initial reports, one of the building’s staircases started to give way, while a pillar also began shifting from its position, triggering fears of a total collapse. The building had not been declared dangerous by the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) prior to the incident.

Terrified residents quickly recorded videos on their phones and sent them to the Lyari Town administration and Rescue 1122, pleading for immediate assistance.

Emergency teams from SBCA reached the scene and successfully evacuated all residents, preventing any casualties. The building, constructed in 2000 on a 60-square-yard plot, contains two flats on each floor and additional makeshift housing on the rooftop.

Residents have criticized authorities for failing to inspect and flag the structure earlier, as the city continues to deal with a growing number of aging and unsafe buildings, particularly in densely populated areas like Lyari.