Firefighters were still battling a third-degree blaze at a garments factory near Metroville in Karachi’s SITE area late on Monday evening, as the SITE garment factory fire grew into one of the city’s most serious industrial incidents of the year.
The fire broke out at around 3pm at Plot A-14. Plastic rolls stored on all three floors of the factory fed the flames, while heavy smoke inside the premises made the firefighting operation extremely difficult.
12 fire tenders and Navy support on scene
Speaking to the media at 7:30pm, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the operation was underway with the assistance of 12 fire tenders, two water bowsers and two snorkels.
“One fire tender from the Pakistan Navy was also present at the site to assist in the operation,” he said.
Firefighters were using both foam and water to contain the blaze. An hour earlier, Sindh Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassan Khan had said the fire on the second floor had been contained, with crews working to douse the flames engulfing the third floor.
The intensity of the blaze has weakened the factory building, leaving the structure in a precarious condition, Khan said.
300,000 gallons of water pumped in
Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) declared an emergency at one more hydrant, Safoora, to keep an uninterrupted water supply flowing to the firefighting teams.
According to Shahbaz Bashir, focal person to the KWSC CEO for the Hydrants Cell, approximately 300,000 gallons of water had been supplied to the fire brigades so far. Of that total, 210,000 gallons came through Crush Plant Hydrants I and II, 40,000 gallons through NIPA Hydrant, 35,000 gallons through Sakhi Hassan Hydrant and 12,000 gallons through Safoora Hydrant.
Bashir said the emergency measures were implemented on the directives of KWSC CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, and the water supply would continue without interruption until the fire was completely brought under control.
SITE garment factory fire comes days after earlier blaze
Concern deepened after it emerged that a fire had broken out at the same location a few days earlier. The cause of Monday’s blaze had not been established.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident, ordered additional resources for the operation, sought a report from the Karachi commissioner, and directed a fire-safety review of industrial areas.
The SITE (Sindh Industrial Trading Estate) area hosts hundreds of factories, and industrial fires have repeatedly exposed gaps in fire-safety enforcement in Karachi’s manufacturing zones.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Karachi factory fire break out?
The fire engulfed a garments factory at Plot A-14 near Metroville in Karachi’s SITE area, breaking out at around 3pm on Monday, October 19, 2026.
What resources are fighting the blaze?
KMC deployed 12 fire tenders, two water bowsers and two snorkels, with a Pakistan Navy fire tender assisting. Around 300,000 gallons of water were supplied through hydrants.
Were there any casualties?
No casualties had been reported by late evening. The fire was declared a third-degree blaze, and the building was left in a precarious condition.
