KARACHI: At least five people including two minors were killed on Thursday when a fire broke out in slums located in the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of the metropolis, said a police official.

A contingent of fire brigades was immediately dispatched to the site of the incident. The fire which was extinguished, claimed five lives by the time it was brought under control.

According to details of the victims provided by SSP East Javed Jiskani, Minhaj, 20; Shahida, 100; Rabia, 15; Sarfaraz, 12 and Mohsin, 8, died in this unfortunate incident.

Police and fire brigade officials stated that the fire erupted in Gulistan-i-Jauhar's Block 2 and gutted at least 70 slums in the locality.

Fire officials, however, claimed that they managed to save scores of huts in the same area.

The local residents came out of their houses following an emergency announcement from the local mosques.

The officials have declared it an accident and have ordered an inquiry into the incident.

It was still unclear what the cause of the fire was, with officials stating that the reason can only be determined after an investigation into the matter is conducted.