Death Toll In Pakistan Shopping Centre Fire Rises To 61, Scores Missing

The death toll from a devastating fire at Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, Pakistan, has risen to at least 61, after officials discovered at least 30 bodies inside a single shop, while more than 80 people remained missing at press time.

Search and recovery operations continued on Thursday as teams worked to locate the missing persons at the multi-storey commercial complex. Officials said the final death toll will be confirmed after DNA testing.

The victims were found inside the shop named “Dubai Crockery”, according to Karachi South Deputy Commissioner, Javed Nabi Khoso. He explained that the victims had locked themselves in the store in a desperate attempt to protect themselves. Local media reported that they had taken refuge inside the shop in the early moments of the blaze after a stampede broke out in the mall.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grief over the rising death toll and ordered that debris removal be paused until all bodies were recovered.

Teams at the site have been collecting samples for DNA analysis to ensure accurate identification. Officials warned that the number of casualties could rise further.

“We will hand over the [remains] to the family, once DNA samples are matched,” a spokesperson said outside the Civil Hospital Karachi mortuary, AFP reported.

Relatives of the missing have expressed frustration at the slow pace of the recovery operation. Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were inside the mall, said he hoped “the bodies [would] be recovered and handed over to their rightful families. That is all so that the families may receive something, some comfort, some peace. At least let us see them one last time, in whatever condition they are, so that we may say our final goodbye.”

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, who heads the inquiry committee investigating the incident, visited the mall on Wednesday. He noted that fire safety standards at the facility did not meet international benchmarks.

No official cause has yet been announced for the fire.

Reports indicate that Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often caused by poor safety standards and illegal construction, although incidents with such high casualties are rare.

In November 2023, a shopping centre fire in the city killed 10 people and injured 22 others, while a garment factory fire in 2012 claimed 260 lives.