Kemari Town is a seaside municipality in Karachi, situated on Hawke’s Bay. On 16th February 2020, an unknown gas leak in Kemari left 7-8 people dead, as confirmed by The Sindh Health Department on Monday. More than 100 are currently being treated at Ziauddin, Jinnah, Kutiyana Memon and Civil hospitals in Karachi.
Around 100 people visited Ziauddin on Sunday complaining about difficulty in breathing and stomach ache. Most were given first aid, and all of the patients are being given free treatment. Some have also been admitted to the hospital due to severe breathing difficulties.
To be exact, one hundred and twenty-five people have been brought to Ziauddin since Sunday night.
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The death toll in the Keamari gas leak has risen to six, with 100 people affected. Chief Minister Murad Shah has ordered free medical treatment for everyone affected. Officials still don't know how the gas leaked or what is was #kemari #SamaaTVhttps://t.co/zAmOd2dfPc
— Samaa News (@SamaaEnglish) February 17, 2020
Announcements made through mosques warned people to stay indoors and close their doors and windows. They were also advised to wear masks.
While there are rumors that the source of the leak was one of the ships at the seaport that came from China, the Karachi Port Trust spokesperson denied all allegations.
Here’s what the PTI leader and Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Haider Zaidi tweeted about the incident:
I have directed KPT to investigate & establish facts. Meanwhile KPT has also been directed to treat the patients at the KPT hopsital in Kemari.
Rest assured, details of the sad incident will be shared in due course & those responsible will be dealt with severely.— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 16, 2020
If there was any leak of poisonous gas from a ship, we would have had casualties on the docks or from the crew, but that is not the case.
Therefore, as repeatedly requested last night, please stop spreading & believing in rumors.
Once we have the report, we will inform all.— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 17, 2020
I took a tour of the whole Harbour today at KPT. It was business as usual with ships docked and cargo loading/unloading. Nothing unusual. pic.twitter.com/UJTj6oyWHy
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 17, 2020
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More details
Edhi Foundation head Faisal Edhi urges the KPT to disclose facts and let the people know what kind of toxic gas has leaked. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has also taken charge and issued directives to provide treatment to the victims. The deceased include 60-year-old Maymar Begum, Rizwan, and Ahsan.
There is a state of panic at the hospitals and among the general public, who don’t know anything about the gas leak and the possible dangers of said gas. Schools and offices have been evacuated, and people were allegedly handed masks at Jackson Market, further inducing fear among locals.
Toxic gas leak in Karachi near kemari. Already 8 people have lost their lives. People are vacating from areas close by. Parents have been asked to pick up their children from school. Hope 🙏gov is taking necessary measures to ensure safety of life!
— Mahum (@Mahum21194824) February 18, 2020
3rd day and we still don’t have a clue what’s causing the gas leak in Kemari or what it actually is. Let’s not even talk about resolving the issue.
We also want to bring potential #coronvirus patients back from China because apparently we can treat and control that.
— Blue on Blue (@RavensLaire) February 18, 2020
Mystery still surrounds the toxic gas leak in Kemari #harbour. At this stage, Control Strategies include:
• Determining safety precautions;
• Evaluating the nature of contamination;
• Identifying hazards of pollutants;
• Assessing the degree of mitigation; …#contingency pic.twitter.com/wPpb9tfUbY— Safe Harbour Consultants (@ConsultantsSafe) February 18, 2020
This is worrying and demands a transparent enquiry from the port authorities. Safety protocols in the port for handling of hazardous substances, chemicals & storages must be ensured. https://t.co/udgysR6n8D
— Nafisa Shah (@ShahNafisa) February 17, 2020
10 dead over 500 hospitalised and still no one appears to know why #toxicgas #poison #kemari #Karachi #DoesAnyoneCare – CM orders evacuation as death toll from toxic gas in Karachi's Keamari area rises to 7 https://t.co/Au6Nk62RG8
— Ayesha Tammy Haq (@tammyhaq) February 18, 2020
While the dangers of the gas and the source is still unknown, people are advised to take precaution. Have anything to add about the gas leak in Kemari? Let us know!
