The death toll from a catastrophic fire at a multi-storey shopping centre in Pakistan has tragically risen to sixty-seven, as rescue teams continue their grim search through the charred remains of the building. The inferno, which engulfed Gul Plaza in Karachi, the country's largest city, has left a trail of devastation, with most victims' remains discovered in fragments, making identification an extremely difficult and painstaking process.
Building Reduced to Ash and Debris
The fire, which broke out late last Sunday, raged for nearly twenty-four hours before firefighters managed to extinguish it. By the time the blaze was brought under control, the structure had been largely reduced to a mass of ash and debris, complicating rescue and recovery operations. Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed confirmed the updated death toll, noting that the previous official figure stood at thirty-four, but this has now doubled as more remains have been uncovered.
Challenges in Victim Identification
Dr Syed emphasised that the fragmented nature of the remains is posing significant challenges for authorities attempting to identify the victims. This has slowed down the process of notifying families and has added to the anguish of those awaiting news of missing loved ones. The Sindh provincial government reported that around seventy people went missing when the flames spread rapidly through the centre, fuelled by highly combustible goods such as cosmetics, clothing, and plastic household items.
Investigation into the Cause
Investigators have revealed that the blaze erupted during a time when most shop owners were either closing for the day or had already left the premises, which may have contributed to the delayed response. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary indications from police suggest that a short circuit may be behind the deadly incident. This has raised urgent questions about electrical safety standards in commercial buildings across the region.
History of Deadly Fires in Karachi
This tragedy is not an isolated event in Karachi, a city with a troubling history of deadly fires. Many buildings in Karachi and elsewhere in Pakistan lack adequate fire prevention and firefighting systems, leaving them vulnerable to such disasters. In November 2023, a fire at another shopping centre in the city claimed ten lives and injured twenty-two people. A more devastating incident in 2012 saw a massive fire at a garment factory in Karachi kill two hundred and sixty people, highlighting ongoing safety concerns.
The Gul Plaza fire serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for improved fire safety regulations and enforcement in Pakistan's urban centres. As rescue efforts continue, the community mourns the loss of life and calls for action to prevent future tragedies of this scale.
