By: The Trek News Desk
At least 14 people have lost their lives in a massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Pakistan’s Karachi city, while more than 50 individuals are still feared missing. Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
According to South Karachi Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Syed Asad Raza, eight additional bodies were recovered by rescue teams after Sunday evening, raising the death toll from six to 14. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed that five of the recovered bodies have been shifted to a local hospital.
Police and rescue agencies are using mobile phone data to trace between 54 and 59 missing persons and are in contact with their families to gather further details. Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, said local reports suggest that more than 70 people may still be unaccounted for. Calling the situation “deeply alarming,” he described the incident as having turned into a national tragedy.
The fire erupted late Saturday night at Gull Plaza, a densely packed commercial complex in Karachi. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly 36 hours, allowing rescue teams to enter the building and search for those trapped inside. However, officials have warned that the structure has become highly unstable and could collapse at any moment.
Later on Monday, Rescue Department Chief Operating Officer Abid Jalal said firefighting operations had to resume after flames reappeared in a section of the mall.
While an electrical short circuit in one of the shops was initially suspected to be the cause of the fire, officials clarified that nothing has been confirmed yet and a detailed police investigation is ongoing.
Local shopkeepers and residents have alleged that delays in the initial response, along with shortages of water and firefighting equipment, allowed the fire to spread rapidly. Many traders expressed anger, saying the incident had destroyed livelihoods built over decades.
Karachi has witnessed several deadly fire incidents in the past, often linked to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a fire at another shopping mall in the city killed 10 people and injured 22. Earlier, a devastating blaze at a garment factory in 2012 claimed the lives of 260 people.
Source: News Agencies
