A catastrophic fire engulfed Gul Plaza, a prominent shopping mall in Karachi, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and leaving over 60 individuals unaccounted for. As firefighters continued their valiant efforts to extinguish the blaze and search through the charred ruins, the dire situation reached a critical point on Monday. The fire erupted late Saturday evening in the multi-storey complex, home to approximately 1,200 shops and spanning an area larger than a football field in Karachi’s historic district.
Rescue teams cautioned that the structure’s integrity had severely compromised, raising fears of a potential collapse at any moment. Video footage captured the dramatic scene, showcasing fierce flames and thick smoke as firefighters worked tirelessly to control the raging inferno throughout the night. By Monday, their focus shifted to cooling down the building and removing twisted metal and debris littering the surrounding streets.
Witnessing the aftermath were countless locals, including shop owners who faced the devastating loss of their businesses. Yasmeen Bano, a shopkeeper, expressed her despair, stating, “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone.” As search and rescue operations progressed, Karachi’s police chief Javed Alam Odho confirmed the existing death toll and highlighted that 18 other individuals injured in the incident had been discharged from the hospital. “The number of casualties may rise,” he added, underlining the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the situation.
Tensions bubbled over during a visit from Karachi’s Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Sunday night, nearly a full day after the outbreak of the fire. Frustrated locals shouted anti-government slogans, criticizing the response time of the fire department and expressing their anger at the handling of the emergency.
Initial reports indicate that emergency services received their first alert at 10:38 PM local time on Saturday, signaling flames in ground-floor shops. However, by the time firefighters arrived, the fire had rapidly spread to the upper levels of the mall. Police Chief Odho suggested that a circuit breaker likely triggered the blaze, compounded by the mall’s layout and the combustible nature of the items sold, including carpets and blankets. “The layout and construction of this market… the nature of the items… caused the fire to spread,” he explained.
Firefighters noted that inadequate ventilation played a significant role in the situation, creating thick smoke that hindered rescue efforts for those trapped inside. Images from the scene revealed the remnants of shops engulfed in flames, casting a haunting glow throughout the charred building.
This devastating incident marks one of Karachi’s worst fires, reminiscent of a catastrophic industrial blaze in 2012 that claimed over 260 lives. The ongoing investigation is expected to delve into the fire’s origins and the factors contributing to its rapid escalation. As the community grapples with the tragedy, the collective hope remains for the safe recovery of the missing individuals and urgent improvements in fire safety measures across the city.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/karachi-fire-gul-plaza-mall-blaze-leaves-14-dead-dozens-missing-building-at-risk-of-collapse-11768812076342.html
Category :
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-01-19 15:06:00
