• Four remain in critical condition; hospitals declare emergency
• Strong winds, presence of tankers hamper firefighting efforts
• Goods worth billions destroyed; highway traffic suspended

QUETTA: At least 35 people sustained burn injuries, with several in critical condition, following a devastating fire at a customs warehouse in Mastung, which led to the explosion of a liquefied petroleum gas tanker on Sunday, according to local officials.

The blaze erupted at the customs facility in the Lakpass area, located on the Quetta-Karachi highway about 30 kilometres from Quetta. The fire rapidly spread to a parking area, engulfing numerous vehicles before reaching the LPG tanker.

“A bowser carrying LPG came under huge flames of fire and exploded in the parking area of the customs check post, which caused massive destruction,” officials said, adding that goods and other items worth billions of rupees were burnt in the fire. Four of the injured are in critical condition.

The fire originated in a warehouse where customs officials stored seized goods, including precious, smuggled items. The flames were not restricted to the warehouse but spread to engulf many loaded trucks, other vehicles, and the LPG bowser parked nearby for clearing.

The situation escalated dramatically after the tanker exploded.

“A LPG bowser, which also came under the huge fire, caught fire and exploded,” a senior official of the local administration told Dawn, adding that the situation became worse as the fire then engulfed other vehicles in the customs parking premises.

The deputy commissioner of Mastung, Behram Saleem, and other officials narrowly escaped the blast.

Emergency services responded to the scene, and the injured were rushed to hospitals in Quetta. “At least 35 people received burn injuries after a gas bowser exploded,” officials said.

Health Minister Bakht Kakar declared an emergency in all government hospitals in Quetta to handle the casualties.

After receiving initial treatment at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, the inj­ured were transferred to the burn units at Bolan Medical College Hospital and the civil hospital.

Firefighting efforts were hampered by the intensity of the blaze and logistical challenges.

Chief Fire Officer of the Met­r­o­politan Corporation Quetta, Abdul Haq Achakzai, described the fire as “extremely severe”, noting that multiple bowsers loaded with gas and spirit were present at the site.

“One gas bowser initially exploded due to the fire, injuring 35 people in its impact,” Mr Achakzai said. He added that fire brigade personnel and security forces jointly evacuated thousands of people from the compound to safe locations.

At least 10 fire tenders from Quetta and Mastung made hectic efforts to bring the blaze under control. However, strong winds, the presence of other flammable tankers, and narrow access to the site hampered the operation.

The Mastung district administration suspended traffic on the national highway as a precautionary measure. The cause of the initial fire has not yet been determined.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026