Authorities in Pakistan have confirmed that the death toll from a major fire at a shopping centre in Karachi has risen to 67, following the recovery of additional human remains from the site.
The blaze broke out at the multi-storey Gul Plaza in the country’s largest city and was brought under control late on Sunday night, almost 24 hours after it began. By the time firefighters extinguished the flames, much of the building had been destroyed, leaving extensive ash and debris.
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said many of the recovered remains were found in fragmented condition, significantly complicating the process of identification. She confirmed that 67 fatalities have been officially recorded so far, while search and recovery operations inside the building are still ongoing. Prior to the latest discoveries, authorities had reported 34 confirmed deaths.
Investigators said the fire started at a time when most shop owners were either closing their businesses or had already left the premises. The Sindh provincial government reported that approximately 70 people were initially listed as missing after the fire spread rapidly through the building, driven by highly flammable materials such as cosmetics, clothing, and plastic household goods.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, though police have indicated that an electrical short circuit is a possible factor.
Karachi has experienced multiple fatal fires in recent years, a problem frequently attributed to inadequate fire safety infrastructure. Many buildings in the city, as well as in other parts of Pakistan, lack effective fire prevention measures and firefighting systems.
In November 2023, a fire at another shopping centre in Karachi killed 10 people and injured 22 others. A far deadlier incident occurred in 2012, when a fire at a garment factory in the city claimed the lives of at least 260 workers.
