In a devastating incident, a fire that engulfed a shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan has claimed the lives of 67 people, with 77 individuals still reported missing by their families. The fire, which broke out at the Gul Plaza on Saturday evening, has left the community in a state of shock and mourning.
The scale of the damage caused by the blaze, which took more than 24 hours to extinguish, has significantly hindered the rescue efforts, as authorities comb through the remains of the 6,500 square metre (70,000 square feet) complex. While some of the bodies found are only partial remains, the deputy commissioner of police has confirmed that 67 skulls have been recovered so far, with the process of identification ongoing.
Gul Plaza, a bustling shopping centre that housed around 1,200 shops spread across multiple floors, was a popular destination for locals, particularly during the wedding season, which is a particularly busy time of year for shoppers in Karachi. Tragically, the lack of working fire exits and the density of shoppers and stalls crammed into the building are believed to have exacerbated the disaster.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the incident, with shop owner Rehan Faisal recounting how it only took about “five to seven minutes” for everything to “burn before our eyes.” He described the frantic scenes as customers and shopkeepers rushed to evacuate, with the shop owners being told to lock up and get out as the fire spread rapidly.
Senior police official Syed Asad Raza has revealed that all but three of the centre’s 16 exits were locked, a factor that undoubtedly contributed to the high death toll. The locked exits, coupled with the panic and desperate calls for help, have left survivors traumatised by the horrific events.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the local community is grappling with the devastating aftermath. With 15 victims identified so far, the painstaking process of identifying the remaining bodies is underway, providing little solace to the families who are still searching for their loved ones.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need for stringent regulations to be enforced, particularly in densely populated commercial spaces. The loss of life is a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken the community, and the long-term impact on those affected will undoubtedly be profound.
