Karachi’s Gul Plaza Fire Extinguished After 33 Hours; Death Toll Rises to 15, 54 Still Missing
During the ongoing search operation, eight more bodies were recovered, bringing the death toll to 15, while 22 people were injured in the tragic incident. Authorities stated that two portions of the building collapsed due to the intensity of the fire, and 54 people are still reported missing.
The fire erupted at around 10:15 pm on Saturday night, starting on the ground floor of the plaza and rapidly spreading to the third floor. The severe blaze caused major structural damage, leading to the collapse of several sections of the building.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after prolonged efforts spanning over 33 hours. Once the fire was controlled, rescue teams entered the building and conducted a limited-scale search operation inside the burnt shops. During the operation, body parts of three individuals, including a child, were recovered and shifted to the Trauma Center of Civil Hospital Karachi.
Since Saturday night, relatives of missing persons have been waiting helplessly outside the burning building, hoping for news of their loved ones. Police officials said they have obtained mobile phone numbers of the missing individuals, and location tracking of over 20 people showed their last location at Gul Plaza.
A rescue operation was also carried out following reports of a person trapped on the third floor, but no survivor was found.
Meanwhile, the Saddar Electronics Dealers Association announced that markets will remain closed today as a mark of mourning, expressing solidarity with the affected traders and families.