Business

In Karachi, the death toll from a major fire at a shopping mall has risen to 11, as firefighters began searching for over 60 people who are still missing. The fire broke out late Saturday at the Gul Plaza shopping center, located in the city's busy business area, and burned for more than a day, making rescue operations difficult. By Sunday, firefighters had transitioned from battling the flames to cooling and clearing debris, but fears grew that more victims might be trapped inside. Dr. Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon, confirmed to Reuters that 11 people have died, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab reported that more than 60 individuals remain unaccounted for. Firefighters indicated that the building's poor ventilation, which contains over 1,200 shops, allowed thick smoke to fill the mall, hindering their ability to rescue those trapped. Sindh province police chief Javed Alam Odho stated that the fire seems to have started from a circuit breaker. He also noted that the mall's design and the presence of flammable items like carpets and blankets allowed parts of the fire to continue burning. By Sunday evening, significant parts of the building had collapsed, leaving twisted metal and debris on the street, along with fallen air-conditioning units and shop signs. Rescue teams cautioned that the remaining structure is unstable and might collapse further. Emergency services reported that the first call about the fire came in at 10:38 p.m. (1738 GMT) on Saturday, indicating that shops on the ground floor were ablaze. When firefighters arrived, the flames had already spread to the upper levels of the mall, consuming much of the building. Local shopkeepers and residents expressed frustration to media, stating that a slow response and lack of water and equipment had hindered early firefighting efforts, leading to devastation of their businesses.