QUETTA: A massive fire that erupted at a Pakistan Customs warehouse in the Lak Pass area of Mastung district, Balochistan, left at least 37 people injured and destroyed more than 100 vehicles, officials said on Monday.
According to officials, the devastating blaze broke out at the customs warehouse between 10:00 am and 11:00 am on Sunday and rapidly engulfed the entire facility due to the presence of fuel, chemicals, tires, and textile materials stored inside the warehouse.
Authorities said repeated explosions from LPG bowsers and gas cylinders intensified the fire and complicated rescue and firefighting efforts. The explosions caused burn injuries to dozens of people, including civilians and senior government officials who were present during the emergency response operation.
Among those injured were the Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the Deputy Commissioner of Mastung, and the Assistant Commissioner of Sariab, who sustained minor injuries after being caught in the impact of one of the explosions.
All injured persons were initially shifted to Sheikh Zayed Hospital and later transferred to the burn unit of Civil Hospital Quetta for medical treatment. Hospital sources said the condition of several injured victims remains critical.
Chief Fire Officer described the incident as a “third-degree fire,” indicating the highest level of firefighting emergency due to the scale and intensity of the blaze.
Officials said the fire caused extensive financial losses, with billions of rupees worth of goods reduced to ashes. More than 100 vehicles parked inside the customs warehouse were completely burned.
Despite more than 22 hours passing since the fire erupted, authorities had not been able to fully extinguish the blaze. Rescue operations continued at the site with the participation of over 10 fire tenders, dozens of rescue personnel, and 13 ambulances provided by PDMA.
Emergency teams remained engaged in cooling operations amid fears of further explosions from remaining gas cylinders and combustible materials inside the warehouse.
The cause of the fire has not yet been officially confirmed, while authorities are expected to launch an investigation into the incident.
