Building declared unsafe, dozens still missing as rescue teams shift to debris removal
Smoke rises as firefighters spray water to extinguish a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre building, in Karachi, Pakistan, January 18, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS
Firefighters brought a massive blaze at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road under control after about 36 hours, but officials warned the building is now extremely unstable and could collapse at any time. At least 14 people have died, including a firefighter, while dozens are still missing, authorities said on Monday.
The fire broke out late Saturday night at the multi-storey shopping centre and continued to burn through Sunday, causing parts of the building to collapse. Fire officials said the main fire has been extinguished and cooling operations are under way, but active flames were seen earlier on the ground and second floors at the rear of the building.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Ahmed told media by phone that the central fire had been put out. “The structure is badly damaged and unsafe. There is a serious risk of collapse, so firefighting has been stopped and only debris removal is under way,” he said.
Firefighters recovered body parts of five more people, including a child, from the affected building since Sunday night. Rescue officials said the death toll has risen to at least 14, while around 54 to 59 people are still unaccounted for. Police and rescue teams are using mobile phone data to trace missing persons and have contacted families to collect details.
DIG South Asad Raza said police had obtained mobile numbers of 59 missing people and traced the locations of at least 26 near Gul Plaza. “Further scrutiny is under way,” he said, adding that a police helpline had been set up on the orders of the Sindh government.
Rescue officials said dozens of injured people were taken to hospitals after suffering from smoke inhalation or burns. Two firefighters, Irshad and Bilal, were injured and are being treated at PNS Shifa. Overall, around 30 people were injured, with patients shifted to the burns centre, trauma centre and Jinnah Hospital. Several were later discharged after first aid.
According to rescue authorities, those killed include Kashif, son of Younis, 40; Faraz, son of Abrar, 55; Mohammad Aamir, 30; and Furqan, son of Shaukat Ali, 25, along with several others whose identities have not yet been confirmed. Lists of injured and affected people have also been issued.
Edhi Foundation head Faisal Edhi said relatives of more than 55 missing people had contacted the organisation. “Firefighters are risking their lives to control the fire and rescue people,” he said, urging the public to cooperate with police and stay away from the building.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah visited the site and said authorities would try to provide maximum relief and compensate traders for their losses. He said the first fire tender reached the site at 10:27pm on Saturday, and about 26 fire tenders, four snorkels and 10 water bowsers took part in the operation. He confirmed that a KMC firefighter was among the dead.
“This was a basement, ground and three-storey building with more than 1,000 shops,” Shah said. “It is too early to determine the exact cause. Some say it started due to a short circuit in a shop with highly flammable material, which caused the fire to spread rapidly.”
Fire brigade officials said more than 20 vehicles from across the city joined the operation. The blaze was declared a third-degree fire and spread up to the third floor, with the basement market also affected. A firefighter was killed when part of the rear structure collapsed.
The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) set up a help desk outside the Civil Hospital trauma centre to assist families and collect information on missing persons. CPLC officials said DNA testing would be used to identify unrecognisable bodies if needed.
Authorities said the cause of the fire would be investigated after the cooling process is complete. For now, the damaged shopping centre remains sealed off as rescue teams continue clearing debris amid fears that more people may still be trapped inside.
