The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire in Karachi rose to at least 11 after rescuers recovered additional bodies during an overnight search, officials said Monday. Authorities were looking for about 60 people reported missing after the blaze swept through the shopping plaza.
Firefighters extinguished the fire late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it erupted, allowing rescue teams to enter the building and search for anyone trapped inside.
Officials cite extensive damage and no immediate cause
Officials said the fire broke out late Saturday and spread quickly through shops storing cosmetics, garments, and plastic goods. Karachi’s chief rescue officer, Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, said the blaze moved rapidly through the building.
The cause was not immediately known, and police said an investigation was underway.
Conflicting fatality figures emerge as bodies are recovered
Mayor Murtaza Wahab said four more bodies were recovered overnight, bringing the toll to at least 10 at that point. Separately, police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said five bodies had been brought to Civil Hospital Karachi.
Local media reported the death toll could be higher, with some outlets putting it at at least 14.
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Families wait outside the plaza for news
Some relatives of the missing waited outside Gul Plaza on Monday, hoping for updates as crews continued the search, according to local media. One woman was seen pleading for help in finding her son, who had been inside when the fire began and had not been heard from since.
Karachi has faced deadly fires linked to safety concerns
Officials and past reporting have noted Karachi’s history of deadly fires, often attributed to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a fire at a shopping mall in the city killed 10 people and injured 22 others, and a 2012 garment factory fire in Karachi killed 260 people.
Sources:
ABC News – “Death toll in Karachi shopping plaza fire rises to 10 as search continues for missing
