Officials say dozens may still be trapped as fire spreads to upper floors of MA Jinnah Road shopping mall
KARACHI:
A massive fire broke out late on Saturday night at the Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, killing at least five people and injuring 20 others, officials said on Sunday, as firefighters continued efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Rescue officials said the deaths were caused by suffocation due to heavy smoke inside the building. Twenty people were injured, several of them in critical condition, and were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi. The deceased were identified as Asif, Faraz and Aamir, while the identities of two others were being confirmed.
The chief fire officer said all shops and warehouses on the ground floor were engulfed in flames. The fire was declared a third-degree blaze, prompting authorities to call fire tenders from across the city. Trapped people were being rescued using snorkels, he said.
Officials said the fire had spread up to the third floor of the shopping plaza, which also has a basement market. Rescue authorities warned that the building had become structurally weak due to the fire and could collapse at any time.
The president of the Gul Plaza Traders Association said between 80 and 100 people were still believed to be inside the building.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan said reports of a fire near shops at Gul Plaza were received, after which fire and rescue teams, along with ambulances and fire brigade trucks, were dispatched to the scene. “Efforts to control the fire are ongoing,” he said.
Chief Officer Humayun Khan said about 40% of the fire had been brought under control.
According to Express News reporter Mohammad Shah Mir Khan, the fire broke out around eight hours earlier and firefighting efforts were continuing, but the blaze kept flaring up despite sustained attempts by rescue teams. Firefighters and rescue workers had so far been unable to enter the building due to the intensity of the fire, he said, adding that parts of the structure, including pillars, had started collapsing.
The Water Board said fire brigade and Rescue 1122 sought immediate assistance, after which an emergency was imposed at the NEPA and Safoora hydrants on the instructions of CEO Ahmed Ali Siddiqui. Water tankers were rushed to the site, and hydrants cell in charge, Mohammad Siddique Tanio, remained in constant contact with rescue officials.
The board’s spokesperson said CEO focal person for the hydrants cell, Shehbaz Bashir, was personally supervising the operation, ensuring an uninterrupted water supply to firefighters. Water tankers would continue operating until the fire was fully extinguished, he said.
The Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the fire incident at Gul Plaza in Karachi. All possible measures should be taken to protect people’s lives and property, the prime minister said.
He directed that all possible assistance be provided to the affected traders and other individuals. The prime minister instructed that all relevant departments work together in the rescue operation.
He said he shared in the grief of the families of those who lost their lives, also directed that all necessary medical facilities be provided to the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar directed authorities to take immediate rescue measures and create alternative traffic routes to ensure safe access. He ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and instructed officials to secure the building, prevent the fire from spreading further and clear access routes for fire brigade vehicles.
Sindh Rangers also joined the rescue operation on the special instructions of the director general of Rangers Sindh, deploying teams to assist in relief efforts, a spokesperson said.
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori visited the site, met affected traders and reviewed the rescue and relief operations. He issued immediate instructions regarding assessment of losses and rehabilitation measures.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and heavy financial damage caused by the fire. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
He directed the Sindh chief minister and Karachi mayor to use all available resources for firefighting and rescue operations and ordered a transparent investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab also expressed grief over the casualties, saying fire brigade and rescue teams were present at the site and operations were ongoing. He placed all departments of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on alert to ensure immediate assistance to those affected.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the federal government was ready to provide all possible assistance to the Sindh government. He directed hospitals to ensure prompt and quality medical care for the injured and said rescuing trapped people and controlling the fire were top priorities.
On the mayor’s instructions, KMC heavy machinery reached the site under the supervision of Municipal Commissioner Syed Muhammad Afzal Zaidi. KMC officials said rescue operations were being directly monitored and more machinery had been kept on standby if required.
Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah and opposition leader Ali Khurshidi also expressed condolences, calling the incident a tragedy and urging faster rescue efforts, effective fire prevention measures and full support for victims and their families.
