Building declared unsafe, dozens remain missing as rescue teams move to remove debris
Smoke rises as firefighters spray water to extinguish a massive fire that broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping center building, in Karachi, Pakistan, January 18, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
Firefighters brought a massive fire under control at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road after about 36 hours, but officials warned that the building is now extremely unstable and could collapse at any time. At least 14 people have died, including a firefighter, and dozens remain missing, authorities said Monday.
The fire broke out Saturday night in the multi-story shopping center and continued burning into Sunday, causing parts of the building to collapse. Firefighters said the main fire was extinguished and cooling operations were underway, but active flames were previously seen on the ground floor and second floor at the rear of the building.
Fire Chief Humayun Ahmed told media by phone that the central fire had been extinguished. “The structure is seriously damaged and unsafe. There is a serious risk of collapse, so firefighting work has been interrupted and only debris removal is being carried out,” he said.
Firefighters recovered body parts of five more people, including a child, from the affected building since Sunday night. Rescue officials said the death toll has risen to at least 14, while between 54 and 59 people are still missing. Police and rescue teams are using mobile phone data to track missing people and have contacted families to gather details.
DIG South Asad Raza said police had obtained mobile numbers of 59 missing persons and traced the location of at least 26 near Gul Plaza. “More checks are being carried out,” he said, adding that a police helpline had been set up on the orders of the Sindh government.
Rescue officials said dozens of injured people were taken to hospitals after suffering smoke inhalation or burns. Two firefighters, Irshad and Bilal, were injured and are being treated at PNS Shifa. In total, around 30 people were injured and patients were shifted to the burn centre, trauma center and Jinnah hospital. Several of them were discharged after receiving first aid.
According to rescue authorities, the dead included Younis’s son Kashif, 40; Faraz, son of Abrar, 55; Mohammad Aamir, 30 years old; and Shaukat Ali’s son Furqan, 25, along with several other people whose identities have not yet been confirmed. Lists of injured and affected people have also been published.
Edhi Foundation director Faisal Edhi said relatives of more than 55 missing people had contacted the organisation. “Firefighters are risking their lives to control the fire and rescue people,” he said, urging the public to cooperate with police and stay away from the building.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the site and said authorities would try to provide maximum relief and compensate traders for their losses. He said that the first fire patrol arrived at the scene at 10:27 p.m. on Saturday and that around 26 fire patrols, four snorkels and 10 water launchers participated in the operation. He confirmed that a KMC firefighter was among the dead.
“It was a basement, ground floor and three-story building with more than 1,000 shops,” Shah said. “It is too early to determine the exact cause. Some say it started due to a short circuit in a workshop with highly flammable material, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.”
Firefighters said more than 20 vehicles from across the city joined the operation. The fire was declared third degree and spread to the third floor, also affecting the basement market. A firefighter died when part of the rear structure collapsed.
The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) set up a help desk outside the Civil Hospital trauma center to assist families and collect information on missing persons. CPLC officials said DNA testing would be used to identify unrecognizable bodies if necessary.
Officials said the cause of the fire will be investigated once the cooling process is complete. For now, the damaged mall remains sealed as rescue teams continue to clear debris amid fears more people are still trapped inside.
