Firefighters in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi finally extinguished a fire at a high-rise shopping plaza on Sunday after nearly 24 hours of efforts. The fire killed six people, including a firefighter, and left dozens missing, authorities said.
The city’s chief rescue officer, Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, said the fire broke out late on Saturday at Garh Plaza and quickly spread through stores stocking cosmetics, clothing and plastic products.
Murad Ali Shah, chief minister of Sindh province, whose capital is Karachi, said the fire had been extinguished and a search was underway for dozens of missing people. Earlier, authorities said crews would need another four to six hours to fully extinguish the fire.
Sheikh said five bodies were found in the four-story building and its basement, which housed about 1,200 shops. One firefighter died while fighting the fire on an upper floor, rescue officials said. Meanwhile, the family continued to search for their missing relatives.
Television footage showed dozens of firefighters in protective gear as thick smoke billowed from the damaged building. Part of the structure collapsed during the fire.
The cause of the fire is not yet known and an investigation will be carried out.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sadness at the death toll and ordered authorities to use all available resources to prevent further losses.
Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, has a history of deadly fires, often due to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a fire broke out at a shopping mall in the city, killing 10 people and injuring 22 others.
