A massive blaze engulfed a shopping mall in Karachi’s historic downtown district, killing six and leaving over 65 people missing. The fire, which began on Saturday night, continued to rage for more than 24 hours, reducing sections of the structure to rubble.
Firefighters struggled to contain the flames due to limited ventilation in the mall, which houses over 1,200 shops stocked with flammable goods. As they endeavored to cool the smoldering remains, the structural stability of the building became a major concern, with parts starting to collapse.
Authorities suspect a circuit breaker as the cause of the fire. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab faced criticism for his delayed response time, while devastated store owners lamented their losses as they watched their businesses burn.