A devastating fire engulfed the Gul Plaza shopping center in Karachi, resulting in at least 11 fatalities and leaving more than 60 people missing. The blaze erupted late Saturday and smoldered for over a day, posing significant challenges to rescue efforts in Pakistan’s most populous city.
According to Dr. Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon, the death toll rose to 11, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed the number of those unaccounted for. Firefighters revealed that a lack of ventilation allowed thick smoke to fill the building, hampering their ability to reach those trapped inside the mall.
The structure, housing over 1,200 shops, partially collapsed, scattering twisted metal and debris across the area. Rescue services received initial reports of the fire at 10:38 p.m. on Saturday, but by the time they arrived, flames had rapidly spread to engulf much of the multi-storey complex.