A devastating fire has ripped through a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, claiming the lives of six people, including a firefighter. The blaze, which broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping centre, has left more than 20 individuals injured, with fears that some may still be trapped inside the multi-storey building.
According to local emergency services, the fire started on the ground floor and quickly spread to the upper levels, engulfing the entire structure in flames. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the partial collapse of the building, which contains around 1,200 stores spanning 8,000 square metres.
“When the helpers arrived at the site on Saturday, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames,” a senior police official told the BBC.
The authorities have been unable to search the building thoroughly for bodies as the fire continues to burn. More than 30 people have been reported missing by their families, who have gathered outside the remains of the centre, anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
Administrators for the city have set up a desk to register the names and details of the missing individuals. Smoke was still billowing from the Gul Plaza building on Sunday morning, and there are concerns that the structure could collapse further.
Hasan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Karachi, explained that the shopping centre contained flammable materials such as plastic foam, cloth, carpets, and perfume, which contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.
Summaiya Syed, the police surgeon in Karachi, confirmed that six bodies had been transferred to the city’s Civil Hospital, along with some of the injured. She added that the police were “invoking mass disaster protocol” in response to the incident.
Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, has expressed his condolences and instructed the government of Sindh province, where Karachi is based, to conduct a comprehensive review of safety arrangements in commercial and residential buildings across the area.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and the need for robust emergency response protocols in densely populated urban centres. As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the people of Karachi mourn the loss of life and pray for the safe recovery of those still unaccounted for.