QUETTA – At least 31 people were injured, including four in critical condition, following a catastrophic fire and subsequent gas bowser explosion at a customs warehouse in the Lak Pass area of Mastung district on Sunday.
The Incident: Explosion and Rapid Escalation
The fire erupted suddenly at the facility where confiscated goods were stored. The situation turned lethal when a gas bowser parked within the compound exploded, sending a massive fireball through the premises. Officials confirmed that the presence of spirit containers and multiple gas bowsers accelerated the spread of the flames.
Rescue and Evacuation Operations
Chief Fire Officer of the Metropolitan Corporation Quetta, Abdul Haq Achakzai, categorized the blaze as "extremely severe."
Mass Evacuation: Security forces and fire brigade personnel successfully moved thousands of people from the vicinity to safer locations.
Emergency Measures
The Mastung district administration has officially suspended traffic on the National Highway to facilitate emergency vehicles and prevent further casualties. While the injured are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, an investigation into the cause of the fire is yet to be launched.