Authorities Reignite Korangi Fire Hours After it was Extinguished

In light of environmental concerns over possible gas emissions, authorities on Tuesday reignited the Korangi fire, hours after it was extinguished, following a continuous 17-day burn.

The fire had first started on March 29 and kept burning non-stop despite several efforts by the fire brigade to put it out. Water could not control the fire and because of the seriousness of the situation, authorities had declared an emergency.

The Sindh government stayed in contact with all the concerned departments and monitored the situation every day. Due to the fire’s unusual behaviour and intensity, the Ministry of Energy formed a special investigative committee. This committee included experts from the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Pak Refinery Limited (PRL).

Read more: Korangi Fire Enters 10th Day With No Relief

According to an earlier report, American experts were also called in to assess the situation. The Petroleum Ministry hired a US company after the Chief Secretary of Sindh personally intervened. A spokesperson from the Chief Secretary’s office said, “Technical teams of the Pakistan Petroleum and the UEPL jointly visited and inspected the affected area.”

Current Situation of the Site

The spokesperson also confirmed that the team of experts, which included drilling and safety specialists, checked the site and observed the fire’s severity. They noted that the hole at the site had gotten bigger over time and hot water was being released from it. “The experts are consulting over a strategy to fill the well with cement,” the spokesperson added.

Despite being a local issue, the fire drew national and international attention because of how long it burned and the mystery around it. The combined efforts of national teams and foreign consultants finally led to the fire being extinguished.

Now, experts are working on long-term solutions, and the possibility of filling the affected site with cement is being considered to avoid any future hazards.