At least 10 people have died in a massive fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping complex as rescue teams continue searching for dozens reported missing, officials said Monday.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it started, allowing rescuers to recover four more bodies overnight, raising the confirmed death toll to 10. Local media reported that up to 14 people may have died.
The fire, which broke out late Saturday, spread quickly through shops storing cosmetics, garments, and plastic goods, said Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city’s chief rescue officer.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said around 60 people were reported missing, prompting a large-scale search operation. Families of the missing gathered outside the damaged building Monday, many in tears.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, and police said an investigation is ongoing. Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often linked to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire killed 10 people, and a 2012 garments factory fire claimed 260 lives.