KARACHI: A large-scale search and recovery operation began late Sunday night at Karachi’s Gul Plaza after firefighters extinguished a massive blaze that had engulfed the shopping mall for more than 24 hours. Authorities confirmed six deaths, including a firefighter, while more than 50 people were reported missing.
Rescue 1122 officials said teams were finally able to enter the charred structure after 10pm once the fire was brought under control and the cooling process began. The fire had erupted on Saturday night at the multi-storey mall located on M.A. Jinnah Road and spread rapidly due to the presence of flammable material inside the building.
CM Sindh @MuradAliShahPPP at fire site: “Wedding season draws shoppers here. Last night’s blaze after 10pm saw swift response -1st tender at 10:27PM. 26 tenders, Navy & CAA aid contained it.” #KarachiFire pic.twitter.com/2V1EqsJPJy
— Sindh Chief Minister House (@SindhCMHouse) January 18, 2026
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, speaking to the media on Sunday evening, confirmed that six people had lost their lives and 22 others were injured. He said the injured had been discharged after receiving medical treatment. However, he expressed grave concern over reports that 58 to 60 people were still missing.
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According to officials from the South district administration, families had reported at least 53 missing persons by Sunday evening. The Sindh government and police established multiple helplines to assist families seeking information about their loved ones.
The chief minister said Gul Plaza was a three-storey building with a basement and housed over 1,000 shops. While the exact cause of the fire was yet to be confirmed, he said a short circuit in a shop storing flammable material was suspected.
Firefighting operations involved at least 26 fire tenders, 10 water bowsers, snorkels and more than 125 rescue personnel. Officials said the operation was challenging due to the building’s age and structural damage, with parts of the mall collapsing during the blaze.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the incident and assured full support to the Sindh government. The president paid tribute to firefighter Furqan Shaukat, who lost his life during the operation, and directed that he be nominated for a civil award.
An inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the fire, while authorities have also been instructed to inspect fire safety arrangements in commercial buildings across Karachi.
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