KARACHI: Rescue teams continued operations on Monday at Gul Plaza in Karachi. Firefighters pulled bodies from smouldering debris. Around 70 people remained missing, Geo News Reported.
The massive fire killed at least 26 people. Authorities continued search and recovery efforts. Smoke still rose from the ruins.
The blaze raged for more than 24 hours. Firefighters brought it largely under control by Sunday. Flames tore through the building during the night.
Videos showed firefighters battling intense flames. Crews worked through the night to contain the fire. Exhaustion slowed operations.
On Monday, teams began cooling the structure. Workers cleared twisted metal from the street. Fallen air conditioners and signboards littered the area.
By Monday afternoon, most of the building had crumbled. Authorities used cranes to demolish remaining sections. Officials feared further collapse.
Qasir Khan said his wife and relatives visited the mall Saturday evening. His wife, daughter-in-law and her mother remain missing. He waited outside the site.
Khan blamed the slow rescue response. He said bodies may not be recognisable. He said timely action could have saved lives.
Hundreds gathered around the site. Rescue teams searched for survivors. Shopowners watched their businesses turn to ash.
Shopowner Yasmeen Bano expressed despair. She said she lost 20 years of work. She said everything was gone.
Anger over the fire
Rescue workers carried human remains in sacks. Authorities sent remains for DNA testing. Workers took frequent breaks due to extreme heat.
Tensions rose when Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited Sunday night. People chanted slogans against the government. Protesters criticised the fire department’s response.
Kosar Bano said six relatives went shopping for a wedding, geo news reported. She last spoke to them shortly before the fire. They said they would return in 15 minutes.
She said families now await remains. She said hope has narrowed to fragments. Grief overwhelmed relatives.
Thick smoke filled Gul Plaza Building
Rescue officials said they received the first call at 10:38pm. Ground-floor shops were already on fire. Flames spread quickly upstairs.
Firefighters arrived to heavy smoke and fire. Much of the building was already engulfed. Visibility remained poor inside.
Images showed charred shops and glowing embers. Flames continued to rise inside the structure. Smoke lingered throughout.
Firefighters blamed poor ventilation. Thick smoke filled the building. It slowed access to trapped people.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah admitted failures. He announced an inquiry into the incident. He promised accountability.
Police earlier blamed an electrical fault. The chief minister said the cause remains unknown. Investigations continue.
The fire could be Karachi’s biggest since 2012. The Karachi baldia factory fire in 2012 killed more than 260 people. A court later ruled it arson.