Rescue teams hope to recover more bodies from the ground floor, where the fire originated
Members of rescue and emergency teams gather near heavy machinery before beginning the search for survivors, following a massive fire that broke out at Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi on January 22. Photo: Reuters
KARACHI:
The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire rose to 71 as rescue teams recovered additional human remains during ongoing search operations, and authorities expect the final sweep of the building to be completed today (Friday).
According to the person in charge of the identification desk of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), Amir Hassan, four bags containing human remains were brought to the hospital during the night. “These remains could belong to four people,” he said, adding that the death toll could reach 71.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the identities of 16 people have been confirmed. Six bodies were fully identified, he added, one of them through an identification card and nine people identified through DNA testing. A total of 45 DNA samples were collected from bodies and body parts.
Read: The search in Gul Plaza enters its fifth day with 67 bodies recovered so far
South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said the final list of missing persons stands at 77. He added that the search operation is in its final stage and the search work in the rubble will be completed today.
An SBCA team was deployed at the site and all work was carried out under their supervision, Khoso said.
Meanwhile, DG Rescue 1122 stated that between 10% and 15% of the building had not been reached so far, but that those sections will be searched today. He expressed concern that the ground floor, where the fire occurred, has not yet been accessed, and said that the bodies are expected to be recovered there.
“Days have passed since the tragedy, there is no hope that anyone will survive,” he said.
The CEO confirmed that the fire started in a flower shop, and preliminary results indicated that it spread through a duct.
He explained that when the rescue teams arrived at the scene the fire was at a third degree level. “No suit in the world can withstand a third degree fire. The most advanced suits and masks in the world were used,” he said.
Revealing that the building did not have a fire safety system nor was it functional, the CEO stated that for the last three days GPS radar had been used to check if anyone was alive inside the building.
Read more: Gul Plaza fire causes losses of 100 billion rupees and 1,000 shops destroyed
Yesterday, the death toll rose to 67 as rescue teams continued recovery operations for the fifth day in a row amid fears more remains may still be buried under the rubble.
About 80% of the site had been searched, according to rescue officials, and heavy debris still remained to be cleared from nearly 40% of the collapsed portion.
The fire, which started on Saturday night, destroyed the shopping plaza and left it severely damaged.
Human remains were recovered from the rubble during debris removal and shifted to Karachi Civil Hospital for medico-legal procedures.
