Karachi airport blast: Death toll rises to three, including two Chinese nationals

KARACHI: A devastating explosion near Karachi airport on Monday night left at least three people dead, including two Chinese nationals, and injured 11 others, according to officials.

The powerful blast could be heard across town as far as Clifton and sparked conflicting accounts regarding its cause.

Authorities initially oscillated between labeling it an “IED (improvised explosive device) blast” and an explosion triggered by a vehicle colliding with an oil tanker.

Additionally, footage from the scene showed multiple vehicles engulfed in flames. The Bomb Disposal Squad was deployed to determine the nature of the blast. The outlawed Majeed Brigade of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, although this claim remains unverified.

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed the deaths of two Chinese nationals and injuries to another, along with “some local casualties.” The embassy stated that a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was targeted near Jinnah International Airport.

Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed reported that the bodies of the two Chinese nationals and an unidentified individual were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where autopsies were performed.

Moreover, ten injured individuals were also brought to JPMC, including one in critical condition. Four were discharged after receiving first aid.

The Chinese Embassy strongly condemned the “terrorist attack,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and sympathies to the injured. The embassy urged Pakistan to thoroughly investigate, punish the perpetrators, and ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and interests in Pakistan.

Rescue 1122 reported that the blaze caused by the blast, which destroyed at least seven vehicles, was brought under control.

Following the explosion, the Airport Security Force sealed the airport’s entry and exit points and cordoned off the area. Flights from Karachi continued as usual, with agencies investigating the cause.

Traffic was diverted, and the airport road was later cleared and reopened. The incident highlights concerns over regional security and the need for increased vigilance to protect citizens, institutions, and projects.