LYARI, Pakistan, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Five more bodies have been pulled from a collapsed apartment building in Lyari, Pakistan, raising the death toll to 29, the army said Sunday.
The building crumbled Thursday and engineers on the scene told Geo News it would take some time to complete the removal of the debris.
The initial rescue effort was slowed by a lack of equipment and training on the part of local first responders.
The five-story building was apparently in poor repair and three neighboring structures were evacuated as a precaution. Residents and survivors of the collapsed structure were living in a temporary camp for the time being.
The Nation said Thursday's incident prompted new calls for city officials to become more assertive about inspecting run-down buildings and moving residents to safer quarters.
Some observers pointed out the Lyari neighborhood is a stronghold of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which could amplify criticism of the national government. The leadership of MQM issued a statement Saturday demanding Karachi find new housing for those left homeless by the collapse.
