Six Killed, Several Feared Trapped as Massive Fire Engulfs Karachi’s Gul Plaza Mall

At least six people, including a firefighter, lost their lives after a devastating fire swept through Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall on Karachi's crowded MA Jinnah Road late on Saturday night.

The blaze triggered a prolonged rescue operation that continued into Sunday, with authorities fearing that several people were still trapped inside the building more than 12 hours after the fire first broke out.

Fire breaks out late night, rescue teams rush in

Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho said the fire started at around 10:45 pm, a time when most shopkeepers were shutting their stores or had already left the premises. Emergency services were alerted soon after, and multiple firefighting and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan said that around 20 people were pulled out of the building and taken to nearby hospitals. However, he noted that rescue efforts were slowed due to the complex internal structure of the mall. "Once the cooling starts, we will start further rescue operations, but the layout of the building is very complex as it houses a basement and mezzanine floor with hundreds of shops and stores," Khan said, as quoted by Dawn.

Intense flames and structural damage complicate firefighting

Television visuals showed firefighters wearing protective gear battling towering flames that burst out of windows and balconies, while thick black smoke engulfed the area and could be seen from several blocks away. Dozens of fire engines were deployed, using ladders, water cannons and hoses to reach the upper floors of the mall.

Officials said the fire spread quickly as it broke out in an area where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household items, all of which accelerated the blaze. Nearly 40 snorkels were brought into operation, and by Sunday afternoon, authorities said about 60 per cent of the fire had been brought under control.

The inferno also caused extensive structural damage. Rescue officials reported cracks in the walls of the building, while a DawnNewsTV correspondent said one side of the mall had "completely collapsed". According to The News International, poor ventilation and sealed windows caused smoke to accumulate inside, making it extremely difficult for rescue teams to operate.

Fears grow over people still trapped inside

Sindh Labour and Social Protection Minister Saeed Ghani warned that several people could still be inside Gul Plaza. District South Deputy Commissioner Khoso told Geo News, "There are fears that people are on the first and mezzanine floors. The rescue teams have not been able to reach these floors."

Sindh IG Aslam said a short circuit was suspected as the cause of the fire, though he added that the exact reason would be confirmed only after the blaze was fully extinguished. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered a formal inquiry and instructed Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to investigate the incident and submit a detailed report.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences over the loss of lives. The tragedy has once again drawn attention to Karachi's poor fire safety standards, with the city witnessing several deadly mall fires in recent years, including a November 2023 incident that claimed 10 lives.