Karachi Gul Plaza Blaze Kills 14, Dozens Still Missing

KARACHI: The death toll from the massive fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping centre has risen to 14, with rescuers continuing their search for missing people after battling the blaze for over 33 hours. The inferno, which began late Saturday at the multi-storey mall in the city’s business district, destroyed parts of the building and severely hampered rescue operations.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirmed the fatalities, adding that five bodies recovered are unidentifiable. Hundreds of shop owners and residents gathered at the scene, many of whom lost years of investment and merchandise in the blaze. “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone,” said shopowner Yasmeen Bano.

Firefighters faced major challenges due to thick smoke, narrow entrances, and a shortage of water caused by construction work on the nearby Green Line BRT. The fire reportedly started in a shop selling artificial flowers and pots and quickly spread through the building, which houses more than 1,200 shops.

Six Dead, Up to 60 Missing as Fire Rips Through Karachi’s Gul Plaza

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan said the blaze engulfed almost the entire building upon arrival. Many trapped individuals were rescued using emergency hammers to break windows, while others remain unaccounted for. Authorities reported that families of 59 missing people have contacted them, with 26 mobile phones traced back to the site.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab faced protests for arriving nearly 23 hours after the fire began, while Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the mall and assured compensation for the victims. A government helpline has been established to assist affected families.

Traders and officials criticized authorities for inadequate firefighting resources and lack of emergency preparedness. Jawaid Qureshi, president of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Sindh, condemned the government’s handling of the situation, citing missing people and billions in goods lost.

Fire officials confirmed that about 90% of the blaze has been extinguished, but hotspots continue to burn amid unsafe building conditions. The rescue operations are being conducted in relatively secure areas, with personnel exiting immediately after each inspection.

Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed acknowledged the water shortage and structural issues in old city buildings, emphasizing that emergency protocols are being reviewed and action will be taken against those responsible.