In brief
A devastating fire has erupted at the Gul Plaza shopping center in Karachi, Pakistan, claiming the lives of six people, including a firefighter. The blaze quickly spread, engulfing the building and causing significant structural damage. Emergency services are working to rescue those trapped, while over 30 individuals are reported missing. Local authorities face challenges due to ongoing flames and fears of additional building collapses. The tragedy has prompted calls for a review of safety protocols across the region.
A fire at a shopping centre in the Pakistan city of Karachi has killed six people as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.
Parts of the Gul Plaza, containing 1,200 stores and spanning 8,000 sq m (86,111 sq ft), have collapsed, which officers said was hampering rescue efforts.
One firefighter is among the dead, and more than 20 people have been injured, with fears that some are still trapped inside the multi-storey mall.
Local emergency services reported that when they arrived, '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 stated that authorities have been unable to search the building for bodies as the fire continues to burn.
Families of over 30 people are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones outside the remains of the shopping center. City administrators have set up a registration desk for the missing.
Smoke was still billowing from what remains of the Gul Plaza on Sunday morning, with concerns that further structural collapse may occur.
Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Karachi, highlighted that the shopping centre contained highly flammable materials such as plastic foam, cloth, carpets, and perfume.
Summaiya Syed, Karachi's police surgeon, reported that six bodies have been transferred to the city's Civil Hospital, alongside several injured individuals.
She added that police are 'invoking mass disaster protocols.'
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed condolences and instructed the Sindh provincial government to conduct a comprehensive review of safety arrangements in commercial and residential buildings across the area.
