Firefighters in Karachi on Monday began recovering bodies from the charred and still-smouldering remains of a large shopping complex, where more than 60 people were feared missing after a devastating blaze that has so far claimed at least 21 lives. The disaster is being described as the worst fire the city has witnessed in over a decade, with rescue efforts continuing amid growing public anger over delays and safety lapses.
The massive fire broke out late on Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey commercial complex located in Karachi’s historic centre. The mall, which houses around 1,200 shops and spans an area larger than a football field, was quickly engulfed in flames that raged for more than 24 hours before being largely brought under control. By Monday, firefighters were still cooling the site and clearing debris as fears persisted that more victims could be trapped beneath the rubble.
Visuals from the scene showed towering flames tearing through the building as exhausted firefighters battled the inferno through the night. By Monday afternoon, large sections of the structure had collapsed, prompting authorities to use cranes to demolish what remained, citing the risk of further collapse. The surrounding streets were littered with twisted metal, fallen air-conditioning units and shattered shop signboards.
For families of those missing, the wait has been agonising. Qasir Khan said his wife, daughter-in-law and her mother had gone to the mall on Saturday evening and never returned. He accused rescue teams of reacting too slowly, saying more lives could have been saved with a faster response. “The bodies will come out in pieces. No one will be able to recognise them,” he said in despair.
Hundreds of people gathered around the site as rescue teams searched for survivors and remains, including distraught shopkeepers who saw decades of work reduced to ashes in a single night. Yasmeen Bano, who ran a shop in the complex, said she had lost everything. “We’ve been left with nothing. Twenty years of hard work is gone,” she said.
Rescue workers were seen carrying human remains out of the debris in sacks, with the remains sent for DNA identification. Many responders paused frequently to drink water, struggling with the intense heat still radiating from the wreckage. Mohammed Ameen, who was overseeing operations for the Edhi emergency services, confirmed that at least 21 people, including a child, had died in the fire.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had put the death toll at 15, including a firefighter, while stating that around 65 people were missing. He also said nearly 80 people had been injured, with 22 already discharged from hospital. As the scale of the tragedy became clearer, anger grew among residents and victims’ families.
When Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site on Sunday night, he was met with chants and slogans against the government, with protesters questioning the fire department’s response time. Local media reported scenes of chaos and grief as people demanded accountability.
Kosar Bano said six members of her family had gone to Gul Plaza to shop for a wedding. The last message she received from them was that they would be home in 15 minutes. “Now the only hope we have is how many hands or fingers we will find,” she said, breaking down as she spoke.
Rescue officials said the first emergency call was received at 10:38 p.m. on Saturday, reporting a fire in ground-floor shops. By the time firefighters reached the location, the blaze had already spread rapidly to upper floors, trapping people inside. Images from within the mall showed gutted interiors and a persistent orange glow as flames continued to smoulder deep inside the structure.
Firefighters said poor ventilation inside the building caused thick smoke to accumulate, making it extremely difficult to reach those trapped and slowing rescue operations. Chief Minister Shah acknowledged that serious failures had occurred and promised an inquiry. “There are faults. I cannot yet say whose fault it is, but heads will roll,” he said.
While the provincial police chief initially suggested an electrical fault may have caused the fire, Shah said the exact cause was still under investigation. The tragedy has revived memories of Karachi’s 2012 factory fire that killed more than 260 people, a disaster later ruled by a court to have involved arson, and has once again raised urgent questions about fire safety and enforcement in the city.
