KARACHI: The death toll from the collapse of a five-storey residentialbuilding in the old area of Lea Market in Karachi`s Lyari town climbed to 21 on Saturday, as emergency crews continued to search for survivors amid the rubble for a second consecutive day.The dilapidated building, located near the 24 Ghanta Clinic in the Lyari 8 Chowk area, eventually gave way on Friday, trapping residents beneath tonnes of debris.

By Saturday evening, officials had recovered 11 more bodies, bringing the total to 21, while concerns remained that up to 10 individuals were still unaccounted for.

`We have recovered 21 bodies so far,` South-DIG General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn. `There are apprehensions that eight to 10 people are still tr appe d under the rubble.

He added that legal proceedings would be launched against those found responsible for the tragedy once the rescue operation concludes.

Rescue teams, including a specialist urban search and rescue unit, have been deployed to the site, utilising advanced equipment such as life locators, listening devices, scanners and radar technology in the hope of finding survivors.

`The debris removal operation is running in parallel with the search,` Rescue-1122 spokesperson Hassaan U1 Haseeb Khan told Dawn.

Ambulance and volunteer services at the scene reportedthat the collapse has so far claimed the lives of at least 18 people and left five others injured.

According to Edhi Foundation workers, the bodies recovered include seven women, 10 men, and a 10-yearold child.

The injured, among them three women, have all been transported to Civil Hospital Karachi.

By Saturday, rescuers had cleared debris down to the ground floor on one side of the site, while on the other, work had reached the third floor.

At Karachi`s Civil Hospital, Dr Summaiya Syed, the city`spolice surgeon, confirmed the death toll and said 10 injured people had been brought in since the collapse.

`One person died during treatment, six have been discharged, and three remain admitted, with one in a serious condition,` she said.

Authorities have identified several of the deceased as Ayush Jamna Das, 12; Shani Juma, 65; Kailash Juma, 40; Usha Kailash, 35; Prakash Shivjee, 50; Chetan Shivjee, 35; Rohit Arsi, 30; and Geeta Rohit, 24.

According to the surgeon, Rohit and Geeta were a couple who had married only recently.

However, conflicting reportsemerged over the exact death toll, as Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso told Dawn late on Saturday that 80pc of the ongoing operation was completed and 19 people had been confirmed dead and 13 injured, while police, hospital, and rescue officials had earlier reported 21 fatalities.

The majority of the victims are believed to be from the Kutchi Maheshwari community, officials said.

The disaster has prompted visits from political leaders, who met with grieving families at the scene.

State Minister Kheeal Das Kohistani, visiting on behalf ofPrime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, said, `We are not here for any political motive but to express sympathy with the families on behalf of the prime minister.

Senator Nihal Hashmi echoed the sentiment, urging unity and support for the victims.

`This was not time for partisan politics but extending help to the families,` he said.

Raja Ansari, a spokesperson for the federal government, called for a `transparent and impartial inquiry` into the causes of the collapse and for those responsible to be held to account.