A five-storey residential building in the old and populated Le Market area of Karachi collapsed suddenly during early hours of Friday.

The rescue officials reported that nine individuals, including five women, have been rescued in injured condition and are being treated while, by so far, 17 lost their lives in this tragedy.

Rescue officials stated that efforts are underway to recover remaining people as they feared that several are still trapped beneath the debris.

Read More: Czech climber dies on Nanga Parbat in tragic fall

As per eye witnesses statements, sound of the collapsing building was heard from very far away, and a big cloud of dust obscured the scene.

Rescue workers, the firefighting units, and the police have arrived at the location, and the clearing of the debris is in progress. Heavy machinery has been summoned to pull the trapped individuals out.

Another adjacent building has also been greatly weakened by the fall of the building, as its walls are bent and cracks in its foundations have developed. The damaged building has been evacuated to prevent any additional potential accidents. Sources indicate that the fallen building was in a state of disrepair.

The residents of the locality stated that they had raised the issue of the building s condition with the concerned authorities a number of times, but no pragmatic measure was undertaken.

The situation is being labeled as human negligence and a gross breach of building codes from this viewpoint.