The fire, which started Saturday night, destroyed most of the building. PHOTO: REUTERS
The death toll from a massive fire at Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi has risen to 26, while the number of missing people has reached 83, officials said on Tuesday. The fire, which started Saturday night, destroyed most of the building. Rescuers are still clearing debris and recovering bodies.
According Express NewsRescuers entered the building after about 40 hours and began search operations. The search on the first floor has ended and teams are now searching the second floor for survivors or bodies. During the operation, the fire briefly broke out again on the second floor, forcing firefighters to spray water before bringing it under control.
A Rescue 1122 Sindh spokesperson said teams have accessed most of the building and search and rescue operations are ongoing. Due to darkness inside the mall, rescuers are using torches to search for people. Parts of human bodies have been found inside and the recovery of the bodies continues.
The mayor of Karachi, lawyer Murtaza Wahab, visited the site late at night to supervise the rescue operation. He ordered authorities to complete the operation at all costs and accelerate efforts to locate the victims. “All departments of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation will remain on alert until all the missing persons are located and the rescue operation is completed,” he said.
Following the mayor’s instructions, additional heavy machinery was brought in. Authorities have begun removing vehicles from the roof with cranes. Officials said 32 vehicles have been brought down so far, including 16 cars, four Suzuki vans, 12 motorcycles and one rickshaw. The vehicles were returned to their owners in good condition.
Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi told reporters that 26 bodies have been recovered, 13 of which have been identified. DNA tests will be carried out to identify the remaining bodies. He said reports of 75 missing persons have been formally registered so far.
“The intensity of the fire was extremely high. I have never seen a fire like this in my life,” Naqvi said. He added that an inquiry committee has launched investigations and evidence is being collected. “Our focus now is the rescue operation. If any criminal negligence is discovered, strict action will be taken,” he said.
South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khosa said the Sindh Building Control Authority will decide whether the building should be demolished after the rescue operation is completed. He said debris removal has already started and families of more than 70 missing persons have approached the district administration. Damage assessment will be carried out later following instructions from the provincial government.
Authorities also detained a merchant who brought an excavator and a drill to reach his store. Trader Rehmatullah said his goal was to create a path to his shop, where his two nephews, a guest from Quetta and employees were present. Authorities said the drilling could endanger the structure of the building and immediately removed the machine.
One survivor, Khalid, said Express News He managed to escape by feeling the walls despite the thick smoke, but then he lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital. “Those moments were like a fight between life and death. There was smoke everywhere, people were screaming, then the power went out and you couldn’t see anything,” he said. Khalid said several family members and workers were still inside and that he was waiting outside the plaza for news about them.
Rescue 1122 Operations Director Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh said three search operations are being carried out simultaneously at five identified points. A special team is involved in firefighting and cooling to keep the site safe, while heavy machinery is used to clear debris. He said the structure of the building is severely damaged and there is a risk of collapse, making the operation slow and highly technical.
Chief fire officer Humayun Ahmed said the main fire has been completely extinguished and cooling work is underway. Firefighters had previously suspended operations at the rear of the building after hearing creaking noises, citing fears of collapse.
The fire occurred around 10:15 p.m. on Saturday in the well-known shopping center. Despite the arrival of several fire trucks, the fire continued to spread and caused parts of the building to collapse.
