A woman holds her chicken that survived a fire in the ruins of gutted homes in Karachi on Wednesday. AP

It was unclear what caused Tuesday night's fire in the city's Teenhatti neighbourhood, where hundreds of nomad families live in makeshift homes, area police chief Liaquat Hayyat said.

Siblings with their pet dog search for belongings as they visit the burnt-out house of their family after a fire broke out in a slum in Karachi. Reuters

He said firefighters quickly doused the flames but they could not save the 100 or so makeshift homes.

TV footage showed a massive fire sweeping through the shelters as dwellers cried for help.

One tearful woman whose makeshift home was burned told reporters in a televised comment that the dowry for her daughter's marriage she worked for years to build was gutted by the blaze in minutes.

Dwellers collect their belongings after a fire gutted their homes in Karachi. AP

Another woman sat next to her burned up makeshift home and said she was still waiting for help from the government.

Hours after the fire, inhabitants were seen retrieving utensils and other items from the ashes. Authorities say the government will provide tents to those who lost homes in the fire.

Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where thousands of nomads live in open areas along the Lyari canal. Some have tin roofs but the majority of the houses are made up of cane, burlap and plastic. Male members of the families work as laborers while nomad women and children either beg on the streets or work as maids in nearby homes.

Associated Press