KARACHI: Rescue teams in Pakistan worked in searing heat and humidity on Saturday to recover residents trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed, killing 16 people. Authorities said the building had been declared unsafe and eviction notices were sent to occupants over three years, but landlords and some residents said that they had not received them.
Rescue teams worked throughout the night, and families said that at least eight people were still believed to be trapped as temperatures climbed to 33 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning. Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh, leading the government's 1122 rescue service at the scene, said that the operation was expected to continue into the evening. Many of the victims are believed to be women, who are more likely to be at home during the day. Nearby residents rushed to save their neighbours before rescuers took over to remove the rubble. The heavy machinery struggled to access the narrow alleys, and police baton-charged residents to clear the way. — AFP
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