ISLAMABAD — A powerful explosion occurred at a gas cylinder shop in Sharifabad, Koral, a suburban area of Islamabad, on Wednesday, causing a fire that intensified after the blast, officials said.

Rescue and emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the site, while firefighters worked to control the flames. Police cordoned off the surrounding area as a precaution. Authorities said no deaths or injuries had been reported so far.

Officials added that the cause of the explosion is being investigated, and nearby buildings are being inspected for possible damage. Further details are expected once rescue operations are completed and an initial assessment is concluded.

The incident comes less than two weeks after a deadly gas cylinder explosion ripped through a wedding house in Islamabad’s Sector G-7/2 on January 11, killing six people and injuring 11 others while a wedding ceremony was underway.

Six killed, 11 injured in Islamabad wedding house explosion

According to officials, both the bride and groom were among those killed in the G-7/2 blast. The injured were shifted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), where an emergency was imposed to ensure immediate medical treatment. Authorities confirmed that multiple houses were damaged in that explosion, and rescue teams used specialised equipment to clear the rubble.

Preliminary findings in the earlier incident suggested a gas cylinder explosion, prompting authorities to order an inquiry. The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns over safety standards related to gas cylinder storage and use in residential and commercial areas of the capital.