After 17 days of intense firefighting efforts, the mysterious blaze that had been raging in the Korangi area has finally been extinguished.
The fire, which had captured public attention due to its unusual nature, started after a 1,200-foot-deep bore was drilled on March 29.
While the flames have been quelled, gas emissions from the pit are still ongoing, with water — initially used to douse the fire — continuing to erupt from the site.
The blaze, which sparked concerns over the type and volume of gas involved, led the Ministry of Petroleum to establish a special committee to test the methane gas at the site.
A team of experts from Cudd Well Control, a US-based firm renowned for its expertise in well control and emergency response, was also engaged to assist with managing the situation.
A joint site visit was recently conducted by technical teams from Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and United Energy Pakistan Limited. The visit revealed that the intensity of the fire had remained consistent with its initial stages, suggesting that a substantial volume of gas was involved in the incident.
“The site crater has expanded due to the overflow of water and the loosening of sand,” said a PPL representative. “Additionally, hot water continues to flow from the site, with visible vapour emissions.”
Preliminary chemical analysis of the water released from the site has revealed concerning findings. The water sample contained hazardous levels of benzene, toluene, and tetrachloroethylene.
The concentration of tetrachloroethylene was measured at 33 micrograms per liter, well above the standard limit of 5 micrograms per liter.
Benzene levels were found to be 19 micrograms per liter, exceeding the permissible threshold of 5 micrograms per liter. Toluene was recorded at 15 micrograms per liter, three times higher than the recommended safety level.
Despite these alarming findings, the overall hydrocarbon content in the water was found to be within permissible limits, according to the preliminary report.
Local residents have expressed concerns about the potential health risks associated with the chemicals found in the water, while environmental experts are calling for further investigation into the long-term effects of the gas emissions.
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