Search and recovery operations continued Thursday as teams worked to locate more than 80 people still missing from Saturday’s devastating blaze in the crowded commercial complex

The death toll from a fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza Shopping Centre has risen to at least 61, Pakistani officials said, after at least 30 bodies were found in a single burned shop.

Search and recovery operations continued Thursday as teams worked to locate more than 80 people still missing from Saturday’s devastating blaze in the crowded commercial complex.

Karachi South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the 30 bodies were recovered from a mezzanine-floor shop, identified as “Dubai Crockery” by Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso.

Victims had reportedly locked themselves inside the store to protect themselves after a stampede broke out in the mall during the early moments of the fire.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grief over the rising death toll and ordered debris removal to be halted until all bodies were retrieved.

Teams are collecting DNA samples for identification, and authorities warned the toll could rise further. More than 50 families have submitted DNA samples so far.

No specific cause has been reported. Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often linked to poor safety standards and illegal construction, though disasters with such high fatalities are rare.

Previous major incidents include a 2023 shopping centre fire that killed 10 people and a 2012 garment factory blaze that claimed 260 lives.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep