KARACHI: At least 12 people have been killed and dozens injured in a huge fire that broke out when a gas cylinder exploded in the restive region of Pakistan Balochistan province, media reported Tuesday.
The bottle exploded on Monday while being filled at a refill shop in Lasbela district, South West province, the Dawn newspaper said.
The flames engulfed other gas cylinders in the store and spread to other stores, destroying at least four of them and about 20 motorcycles parked nearby, the newspaper added.
Two people were killed instantly while 10 others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at a hospital, Geo News reported, citing police.
At least 25 people were seriously burned in the fire. They were transferred to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.
According to a doctor who was treating them, the condition of some of the injured was critical with 70 to 90% burns.
The death toll is expected to rise, police said.
Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Murad Kasi said that with the efforts of the firefighters, the whole bazaar was saved from the fire and an investigation was opened to determine responsibility for the incident.
The bottle exploded on Monday while being filled at a refill shop in Lasbela district, South West province, the Dawn newspaper said.
The flames engulfed other gas cylinders in the store and spread to other stores, destroying at least four of them and about 20 motorcycles parked nearby, the newspaper added.
Two people were killed instantly while 10 others succumbed to their injuries during treatment at a hospital, Geo News reported, citing police.
At least 25 people were seriously burned in the fire. They were transferred to Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital in Karachi.
According to a doctor who was treating them, the condition of some of the injured was critical with 70 to 90% burns.
The death toll is expected to rise, police said.
Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Murad Kasi said that with the efforts of the firefighters, the whole bazaar was saved from the fire and an investigation was opened to determine responsibility for the incident.
