A fire that erupted during the drilling of a 1200-foot borehole in Karachi’s Korangi Creek area continues to burn six days after the incident. Authorities were forced to halt firefighting efforts due to the extreme heat, which made it unsafe to continue operations.
Officials have collected water and sand samples for chemical analysis to determine the nature and extent of the gas present in the underground reservoir. Experts suspect that methane gas, known for its high flammability, was released during drilling, triggering the fire.
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Dr. Adnan Khan, a geology professor at the University of Karachi, suggests that Korangi Creek may hold large underground gas reserves. He cited past exploration data and a 2020 Chinese study that confirmed the presence of gas and coal layers in the area. The region’s geological features, including structural faults and fractures, may have allowed methane to rise to the surface, igniting the blaze.
Experts warn that with gas emissions exceeding 15%, immediate safety measures are crucial. Dr. Khan cautioned that the fire could persist for weeks, posing environmental and health risks to nearby residents due to continuous carbon dioxide emissions.
