The Gul Plaza fire rescue and search operation has entered its sixth day in Karachi, as authorities continue efforts to locate 88 missing people following one of the city’s deadliest commercial fires in recent years. The tragedy has so far claimed 60 lives, leaving families anxiously waiting for news amid the charred ruins of the shopping mall.
According to rescue officials, the death toll rose sharply after 30 burnt bodies were recovered from a single crockery shop located on the mezzanine floor. The discovery was made after operations resumed in areas that were earlier inaccessible due to safety concerns. The victims are believed to have taken shelter inside the shop when panic and a stampede broke out during the early moments of the fire.
Authorities confirmed that 15 more bodies have been identified, while dozens remain unaccounted for. The victims included men and women from different parts of the city, deepening the scale of grief linked to the Gul Plaza fire. Families of the missing continue to gather near the site, hoping for answers as rescue teams sift through debris.
Officials stated that the blaze broke out late at night at the rear side of the shopping centre, which housed more than 1,200 shops. CCTV footage revealed that within approximately 11 minutes, flames spread rapidly from the back of the plaza to its front on MA Jinnah Road. Despite firefighters and ambulances reaching the site within minutes, the intensity of the fire made rescue operations extremely difficult.
The fire was finally brought under control after 39 hours of continuous firefighting, but the damage had already become catastrophic. Burnt remains and collapsed structures have complicated recovery efforts, forcing rescuers to carefully carve paths through rubble.
Traders’ representatives stated that market entrances and emergency exits were open, while electricity was cut as a precautionary step to prevent further hazards. Authorities have since begun issuing notices to buildings lacking fire safety arrangements.
The Gul Plaza fire has once again highlighted Karachi’s long-standing fire safety failures. Official data shows that over 2,400 fire incidents were reported in the city last year alone, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement and preventive measures.
