ISLAMABAD, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to 23 in a building collapse in southern Pakistan's Karachi as rescue workers pulled out more bodies from the rubbles of the five-storey collapsed late Friday night, local TV reports said Monday.

    The building was located in a densely populated market area and at least 40 people have been feared to be still trapped under the debris. By Saturday night, 10 bodies had been retrieved from the rubble.

    The chief fire officer told local media that according to his statistics the death toll in the building tragedy has reached 23.

    He said there were slim chances that any more bodies could be recovered from the ruin.

    The rescue operation was hindered tremendously by the narrow lane in which the fallen building was located. Informed sources said removal of debris could take more time.

    Sindh Provincial Health Minister Sagheer Ahmad has declared emergency in civil hospitals and a local government official said the building might have been damaged because of the recent heavy monsoon rain.

    In July the first torrential rains of the monsoon season killed more than 50 people in the port city, mostly women and children, and injured hundreds.

    On July 21, an "illegal" four-story building under construction collapsed in downtown Karachi, the commercial hub of Pakistan with a population of 15 million people, killing at least 11 people.