ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a gas explosion at a residential building in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi has risen to 16, rescue officials said on Thursday.

Rescue workers carry a body after recovering from the rubble following a gas explosion in an apartment building in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (Photo: AP)

The explosion occurred at around 4:15 a.m. local time on the first floor of a three-storey building, Assistant Superintendent of Police Jamshed Asher told media.

The building partially collapsed following the explosion, burying several people under the rubble, he said.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with an urban search and rescue team and a disaster response vehicle deployed at the scene, the state-owned Rescue 1122 said in a statement.

The building consisted of small rooms, which made the rescue efforts challenging due to limited space, the statement added.

Police has launched an investigation into the incident as rescue teams continue efforts to clear the debris.