The death toll from a major fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi climbed to 23 on Monday as rescue teams pulled more bodies from the heavily damaged structure, police said, while dozens of people are still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out on Sunday, was brought under control late that night—almost 24 hours later—allowing rescuers to begin searching inside the multistory building. City police chief Asad Raza said authorities are concerned the number of fatalities could increase as efforts continue to locate 46 missing individuals.
Speaking to The Associated Press, Raza said only six victims have been identified so far. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said most of the bodies were badly burned and unrecognizable, making DNA testing necessary. Doctors are collecting DNA samples from relatives of those reported missing.
Local media outlets have reported that at least 26 people may have died in the incident.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told reporters that search operations were ongoing for both survivors and victims. He confirmed that a firefighter was among those killed and announced that the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million rupees ($36,000) to each bereaved family.
Read More: At least 25 injured in fireworks storage blast in Karachi
Rescue workers continued operating into the night, facing difficulties accessing certain parts of the unstable building where some people were believed to be trapped after losing contact with their families. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said operations would continue until everyone missing was located.
According to Karachi’s chief rescue officer, Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the fire spread rapidly because many shops stored flammable items such as cosmetics, clothing and plastic materials.
Outside the charred plaza, anxious relatives gathered on Monday, waiting for updates. Qaiser Ali said his wife, daughter-in-law and sister had gone shopping for an upcoming wedding when the fire broke out. He said he was in contact with them by phone on Sunday before communication suddenly stopped.
Read More: Death toll rises to 10 in Karachi shopping plaza fire
“I don’t know what has happened to them or if they are still alive,” Ali said, adding that the family continued to pray for the safe return of all those missing.
Another survivor, Saifur Rehman, said he managed to escape the building when the fire started, but his brother Mohammad Abrar, who owns a shop in the plaza, remained inside. Rehman said he feared the worst.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and police have launched an investigation.
Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has experienced several deadly fires in the past, often linked to weak safety regulations and illegal construction. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire in the city killed 10 people and injured 22. An even deadlier incident occurred in 2012, when a garment factory fire claimed 260 lives.