KARACHI:
A massive fire erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road, claiming at least six lives — including a firefighter — and injuring 20 others, officials confirmed on Sunday as rescue and firefighting operations continued.
Rescue authorities said most victims died due to suffocation caused by dense smoke trapped inside the multi-storey commercial building. The injured, several of whom were in critical condition, were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. The deceased were identified as Asif, Faraz and Aamir, while the identities of two others were being verified.
According to the chief fire officer, flames engulfed shops and warehouses on the ground floor before spreading to the upper floors. The fire was declared a third-degree blaze, prompting emergency calls for additional fire tenders from across the city. Rescue teams used snorkel vehicles to evacuate trapped individuals, while officials warned that the structure had become dangerously weak and could collapse.
Authorities said the building houses a basement market and multiple commercial floors, with between 80 and 100 people believed to have been inside at the time of the incident. Firefighters initially struggled to enter due to intense heat and smoke, while partial structural collapses, including damaged pillars, further hampered rescue efforts.
The Karachi Water Board imposed an emergency at key hydrants to ensure uninterrupted water supply, dispatching multiple tankers to assist firefighting teams. Officials said approximately 40 per cent of the fire had been brought under control, with cooling operations underway.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed all relevant departments to provide immediate assistance to affected traders and families of the victims. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori and other senior officials also expressed condolences and ordered inquiries into the incident.
Sindh authorities have directed a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the fire and announced citywide fire safety audits of commercial buildings to prevent similar tragedies.
