A tragic fire at the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi has led to a rising death toll and extensive search efforts for over 50 individuals still unaccounted for. This catastrophic incident highlights ongoing challenges surrounding safety standards in bustling urban environments in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for improved regulations and emergency preparedness to prevent such disasters in the future.
The death toll from a devastating fire at a shopping mall in Karachi has tragically increased to at least 14, as authorities continue to search for upwards of 50 missing individuals. The blaze erupted late Saturday night at the densely populated Gul Plaza shopping mall, fueling concerns and calls for action over safety standards at commercial establishments in Pakistan’s largest city.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for South Karachi, Syed Asad Raza, reported to ZezapTV that an additional eight bodies were recovered by rescue personnel on Monday, raising the total from an earlier count of six to 14. Meanwhile, police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that five bodies had been transported to a local hospital, as officials grapple with the tragic events that unfolded.
As authorities investigate, they are using mobile phone data to trace the whereabouts of the 54 to 59 individuals reported missing, with efforts underway to contact their families for pertinent information. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited the scene and noted that the reports of more than 70 individuals missing are “extremely alarming,” calling the incident a profound national tragedy.
Firefighters worked tirelessly for approximately 36 hours to bring the massive blaze under control, allowing rescue teams to enter the building for those trapped inside. However, officials have warned that the structure is now precariously unstable and might collapse at any moment. Rescue chief operating officer Abid Jalal noted that firefighting efforts were reinitiated on Monday due to the reemergence of flames in certain areas of the mall.
Early investigations suggested that the inferno might have originated from an electrical short circuit in one of the stores, but the precise cause remains under scrutiny as officials conduct their investigation. Witnesses, including shopkeepers and local residents, expressed frustrations over the delayed response and lack of adequate resources for combating the fire, which have compounded the crisis and left many without their livelihoods.
Karachi has faced numerous fatal incidents linked to insufficient safety measures, with a similar deadly fire in November 2023 leading to the deaths of 10 individuals and injuries to 22 others. Furthermore, a catastrophic garment factory fire in 2012 claimed the lives of 260 people. As the city processes this latest tragedy, there is hope that it will spur necessary reforms to ensure better safety protocols and emergency readiness in the future.
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