At least 23 people have been confirmed dead in a massive fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi, Pakistan, with dozens still missing. The blaze broke out on Saturday and continued to rage for nearly 24 hours before firefighters were able to extinguish it, allowing rescue teams to enter the building.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities fear that more bodies may be recovered once they begin searching the badly damaged complex. So far, only six bodies have been identified, but DNA testing is needed due to the severe condition of many of the victims.
The fire destroyed over 1,200 shops in the Gul Plaza shopping center, which spans an area larger than a football field. Cosmetic and garment stores were among those that suffered significant damage. A firefighter was also reported killed in the blaze.
Shopowners and relatives of missing individuals are gathering outside the burning building, with many expressing grief and uncertainty about the fate of loved ones who may still be trapped inside. One shopowner described her 20 years of hard work going up in flames as "a nightmare come true."
As rescue teams search for survivors, hundreds of people remain anxiously waiting outside the building. Police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is being treated as a criminal inquiry.
The incident highlights concerns about safety standards and construction regulations in Karachi's shopping centers, where several deadly fires have occurred in recent years. The Pakistani government has promised compensation to the families of those killed, with payments ranging from $36,000 to millions of dollars.
Rescue teams are still searching for 46 missing people, according to police chief Asad Raza. Many of these individuals were trapped inside shops when the fire broke out on Saturday, and communication lines with the outside world have been cut off due to the damage.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities fear that more bodies may be recovered once they begin searching the badly damaged complex. So far, only six bodies have been identified, but DNA testing is needed due to the severe condition of many of the victims.
The fire destroyed over 1,200 shops in the Gul Plaza shopping center, which spans an area larger than a football field. Cosmetic and garment stores were among those that suffered significant damage. A firefighter was also reported killed in the blaze.
Shopowners and relatives of missing individuals are gathering outside the burning building, with many expressing grief and uncertainty about the fate of loved ones who may still be trapped inside. One shopowner described her 20 years of hard work going up in flames as "a nightmare come true."
As rescue teams search for survivors, hundreds of people remain anxiously waiting outside the building. Police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire, which is being treated as a criminal inquiry.
The incident highlights concerns about safety standards and construction regulations in Karachi's shopping centers, where several deadly fires have occurred in recent years. The Pakistani government has promised compensation to the families of those killed, with payments ranging from $36,000 to millions of dollars.
Rescue teams are still searching for 46 missing people, according to police chief Asad Raza. Many of these individuals were trapped inside shops when the fire broke out on Saturday, and communication lines with the outside world have been cut off due to the damage.
it's like something straight outta a movie... or a really bad dream 
i mean, 20 years of hard work just goes up in flames? that's like, what even is the point of all that hard work if it's gonna be reduced to ashes in an instant? 
and another fire victim, wow, just great 
i hope the families of those missing get the compensation they deserve, but seriously, how many times do these shopping centers need to get burned down before something gets done about safety standards?! 
my heart goes out to all those affected by this tragedy... 23 lives lost is just devastating, and the thought of dozens more still missing is keeping everyone on edge 
it's like they were fighting an uphill battle from the start... and the shopowner who lost everything in a matter of minutes, her dream business gone up in flames... what can you even say? 
. And poor shopowners who've spent years working their butt off to build businesses that go up in flames the moment they're open for business 
. DNA testing is gonna be a real blast, I guess 
. Guess this is what they mean by "building a legacy"... of ashes and grief 
. But seriously though, Karachi's got to do better on safety standards - can't we get some decent fire regulations over there? 
And to the families of the victims, I'm so sorry... 20 years of work down the drain is no joke 
.
The Pakistani government should really do something more about this. It's just not right that people have to suffer like this. 
. and the fact that DNA testing is needed because many bodies are too badly damaged... 
.
and to think that many of those who perished were small business owners who had risked everything to start their own shops 
it's just not right 