Karachi mall inferno leaves at least 21 dead, dozens missing as firefighters comb ruins of Gul Plaza
KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani firefighters on Monday pulled bodies from the smoldering remains of Gul Plaza, a sprawling shopping complex in Karachi, as anguished families waited for word of more than 60 people still missing after the city’s deadliest blaze in more than a decade.
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The fire erupted late Saturday, racing through the multi‑story mall that housed some 1,200 shops across a footprint larger than a football field. The blaze raged for more than 24 hours before crews largely subdued it, but much of the building had already crumbled. Cranes were deployed to tear down unstable sections amid fears of a full collapse, complicating the search for survivors.
Human remains were carried out in sacks for DNA testing as rescue teams paused frequently to drink water in intense heat radiating from the debris. Mohammed Ameen, overseeing operations for the Edhi emergency services charity, said at least 21 people were confirmed dead, including a child.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had earlier put the toll at 15, including a firefighter, and said 65 people were missing. He added that about 80 people were injured, with 22 released from hospitals.
“I’m admitting that there are faults. I can’t say whose fault this is. An inquiry will be conducted and heads will roll,” Shah said, while cautioning that the cause of the fire had not been determined. Provincial police chief Javed Alam Odho had earlier cited an electrical fault, but authorities now say the origin remains under investigation.
Rescue officials said the first emergency call came at 10:38 p.m. Saturday, reporting flames on the ground floor. By the time fire crews arrived, the blaze had climbed through the complex, intensified by poor ventilation that allowed thick smoke to fill stairwells and corridors, trapping shoppers and workers inside. Images from the scene showed an orange glow lighting the mall’s wrecked interior as flames continued to flare.
Outside the site in Karachi’s historic center, hundreds gathered through the night and into Sunday, including shopkeepers watching their life’s work turn to ash and families seeking news. “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone,” said shop owner Yasmeen Bano.
Grief frequently spilled into anger. When Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited late Sunday, crowds chanted anti‑government slogans, accusing authorities of a slow response. “The bodies will come out in pieces from here. No one will be able to recognize them,” said Qasir Khan, who said his wife, daughter‑in‑law and her mother were among the missing. “They could have saved a lot of people.”
Kosar Bano said six relatives had gone to shop for a wedding and promised to be home within 15 minutes. “The only hope we have is how many hands we will find, how many fingers we will find, and how many legs we will find. That’s it,” she said.
The scale of the disaster is drawing comparisons to the 2012 Karachi factory fire, which killed more than 260 people and was later ruled by a court to have involved arson. While Gul Plaza’s toll is still being confirmed, the incident has renewed scrutiny of building safety, emergency preparedness and enforcement of fire codes in Pakistan’s largest city.
With the complex now largely in ruins, investigators are expected to examine structural design and safety features, including exits, ventilation and electrical systems. Authorities have promised accountability once the cause is established, as families press for answers and closure.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
