KARACHI: The death toll in the Gul Plaza fire rose to six as multiple parts of the shopping mall collapsed on Sunday morning, while rescuers continue efforts to douse the blaze on MA Jinnah Road.
The fire, at the shopping mall, which houses around 1,200 shops, reportedly broke out at a flower shop on Saturday and had yet to be extinguished more than 16 hours later.
Firefighters stated that the lack of ventilation and the closure of windows at the mall — which spans over 1.75 acres, roughly the size of a football field — has led to smoke filling the interior of the building, hindering rescue efforts.
Pakistan Navy, Rescue 1122, and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation machinery are battling the blaze, which erupted on the ground floor and spread to the third floor. Geo News reporters at the site said they heard parts of the building collapsing, raising fears that the entire structure could give way.
Officials said the third-degree fire has severely gutted the building, compromising its structure and preventing rescue personnel from entering.
Furqan, belonging to the Nazimabad Fire Office, was recovered from the rubble and brought to the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre.
As per the report presented to Sindh CM Shah by South District DC and Karachi commissioner, the fire broke out between 9:45pm to 10:15pm.
With more than 1,200 left burnt, 60% to 70% of the blaze has been brought under control owing to the firefighting operation.
So far, six fatalities have been reported along with 22 wounded, all of whom were shifted to the Civil Hospital's Burns Ward.
A total of 22 fire brigade vehicles, along with 10 water bowsers, four snorkels and 33 ambulances, took part in the rescue operation.
Reporters at the site said firefighters were continuously dousing the blaze — which erupted in an artificial flower shop on the ground floor — using snorkels, but it had yet to cool down.
Confirming the death toll while speaking to the media, Sindh Labour and Social Protection Minister Saeed Ghani said that there's still a possibility that many people are inside the building.
"All efforts were made to control the fire in time, and many people were evacuated," Ghani said as he urged the citizens to cooperate with the authorities.
The minister, while stressing the provision of fire extinguishing equipment in buildings, called for ensuring emergency exit routes.
The government has established helpline to facilitate the public in light of the Gul Plaza blaze via collaboration between South Zone Police and the District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso.
Information on Gul Plaza tragedy or missing persons should be reported to DC South, said Khoso.
The information can be given by reaching out at the cellphone numbers including 03135048048; 02199206372; and 02199205625.
Meanwhile, the citizens can seek information via helpline numbers 02199205670; 02199201196; and 02199205691.
The DC also said that 16 people were missing so far, and their families had contacted the authorities.
The shopping mall building has become dilapidated due to the blaze's intensity. The ground and mezzanine floors have been completely burned, whereas the upper two floors are also on fire. The complex houses shops selling a wide range of items, including clothes, crockery, perfume, makeup, electronics and toys.
Speaking to Geo News, District South DC Khoso said that the fire has erupted again in the back of the first floor of the building.
"There are fears that people are on the first and mezzanine floors," said the DC, adding that the rescue teams have not been able to reach these floors.
Noting that there is no way to exit in case of an emergency, the DC said that investigation is underway to find out why an emergency exit was not made in the building.
"We will check the map and other things with the relevant institutions."
"It was directed to ensure fire extinguishers [in building], but they were not present in the building," the official added.
Additionally, Karachi Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, who was speaking to the media during a visit of the incident site, another portion of the shopping centre collapsed — reflecting the dire condition of the structure owing to the hours-long inferno.
Meanwhile, Sindh Emergency Service Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh said that 20 fire tenders and four snorkels are taking part in firefighting operations from three sides of Gul Plaza.
Noting that all available technical equipment is being used to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, the rescue official added that materials stored inside the plaza are making it difficult for rescue teams to control the blaze.
Fire brigade officials feared that several people were still trapped inside the mall.
"We cannot say at this stage how many people are still trapped inside the building," the official added.
Shaikh added that a portion of the building’s rear side has collapsed, increasing the risk for both trapped individuals and rescue workers.
The presence of air conditioning shops in the building is creating additional challenges for firefighters, he said.
The blaze quickly spread inside the old building because of certain flammable material stored there, he said, confirming that due to the intense heat, a pillar of the building collapsed, raising fears that more parts of the structure could cave in.
Separately, revealing details of evacuation, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza has said 25 people have been evacuated from the building so far.
Earlier, authorities had said that hours of firefighting efforts had stopped the blaze from spreading further, but it had nevertheless reached the third floor before being contained.
Soon after the fire brigade said the fire had been contained, conflagration again erupted with long flames coming out from the first floor.
Video footage showed flames engulfing several shops as firefighters worked to extinguish them.
The chief fire officer said that people trapped inside the shopping mall were evacuated with the help of snorkels.
The firefighting operation was temporarily paused in the early hours of Sunday before being resumed 15 minutes later.
A powerful explosion took place inside the premises after which the blaze further broke out, according to the chief fire officer, adding that the explosion was caused by gas leakage.
Sindh Rangers personnel, as per the spokesperson, are also taking part in rescue efforts alongside other emergency services.
The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
Reacting to the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and said that possible steps should be taken to protect people's lives.
All possible assistance should be provided to affected traders and other people, the PM directed while ordering relevant agencies to work together in the rescue operation.
The PM also hailed martyred firefighter Furqan, saying that he sacrificed his life while saving the lives of the people.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed sorrow over the incident and conveyed condolences on the loss of precious lives.
No effort should be left unturned in providing the best medical facilities to the injured, the president said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident, directing Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to immediately inquire into the incident, find out the reasons behind the fire and submit a report.
Issuing directives for fire safety arrangements in the building to be checked, CM Shah ordered a strict implementation of fire safety laws.
"Fire safety audit should be conducted immediately in commercial buildings of Karachi," the provincial chief executive stressed.
Talking to Geo News on Sunday, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said that dousing the blaze is the authorities' top priority and that 40% of it has been brought under control.
"Firefighters are having difficulty entering the building due to the intense heat," she added.
"The fire spread very quickly, due to which it could not be controlled. There is no emergency exit arrangement in old buildings, the spokesperson noted.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of life and property damage in the conflagration.
The PPP chief offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the blaze.
Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has called for alternative traffic routes to be established to ensure safe passage for residents.
He has also directed the SSP City to investigate the cause of the fire and instructed officials to prevent the flames from spreading further.
The minister underscored the need to keep access routes clear for fire brigade vehicles and emergency personnel.
Hours after the fire broke out, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed his sorrow over the loss of life in the tragedy.
"We stand with the families of those who died during this difficult time," Wahab said.
Shedding light on the lack of safety measures and emergency exits, former chief fire officer Kazim Ali told Geo News that the people and authorities issuing "fire fitness certificates" must be held accountable.
He said that a fire fitness certificate does not translate into fire safety, and that traders and business owners need to take preventive measures themselves.
Urging the installation of sprinkler systems as a key fire-prevention feature, the expert said that fire extinguishers have a limited range, and that smoke in a fire acts as fuel, further spreading it.
The items being sold in Gul Plaza were mostly plastic (petroleum-based products), whose smoke, when burned, produces hydrogen cyanide — which, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), interferes with the normal use of oxygen by nearly every organ of the body and can be rapidly fatal upon exposure.
The Sindh chapter of the All Pakistan Traders Association expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the Gul Plaza tragedy, calling it a devastating blow that has left several families shattered.
In a video statement, All Pakistan Traders Association-Sindh President Javed Qureshi said the incident was not an accident but the result of government negligence and the failure of an inadequate fire safety system. He added that despite the passage of several hours, more than 100 traders remained trapped inside Gul Plaza.
The trade body leader said delays by the fire brigade and a shortage of water significantly increased the loss of life. He stressed that those who lost their lives were not mere statistics but breadwinners and sources of support for their families. The association also lamented that years of hard work worth billions of rupees were reduced to ashes within moments.
Qureshi further criticised the absence of Sindh CM Shah at the site despite the scale of the human tragedy, saying it reflected official indifference. He also questioned the non-appearance of Karachi Mayor Wahab, calling it another sign of the government’s lack of seriousness.
He demanded immediate justice and relief for the affected families and traders, reaffirming that the organisation stands firmly with every family impacted by the Gul Plaza fire.
Earlier, while expressing concerns over the rescue efforts with Gul Plaza Traders' Association President Tanveer Pasta telling Geo News that nearly 80 to 100 people are believed to be trapped inside the building after the deadly fire.
All customers exited the building, but staff and shopkeepers were still thought to be inside, said Pasta, adding that the building houses 1,200 shops and the fire has caused losses worth billions of rupees.
He criticised the response from senior government officials, saying neither the chief minister nor the mayor of Karachi contacted the traders. "Only Governor Sindh has come so far, no one else," he said.
He claimed that no rescue personnel had yet entered the building, and that the fire continues to burn on three sides of the structure.
The fire reportedly started in a shop selling artificial flowers located on the ground floor, he added.
