Firefighters in Karachi, Pakistan, extinguished a blaze at a multistory shopping plaza on Sunday after nearly 24 hours of efforts, officials said. The fire left six people dead, including a firefighter, and dozens were reported missing as a search continued.
The blaze broke out late Saturday at Gul Plaza and spread rapidly through shops stocked with cosmetics, garments and plastic goods, according to Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city’s chief rescue officer. Sheikh said five bodies were recovered from the four-story building and its basement, where about 1,200 shops were located.
Sheikh said a firefighter died while trying to extinguish flames on the upper floors. Television footage showed dozens of firefighters in protective gear as thick smoke billowed from the damaged building, and parts of the structure collapsed during the fire.
Murad Ali Shah, the chief minister in Sindh province, said the fire had been put out and that a search for dozens of missing people was underway. Families continued searching for relatives as responders moved through the damaged building, officials said.
Earlier, authorities had said crews needed another four to six hours to bring the blaze fully under control. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and an investigation will follow.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths and ordered authorities to use all available resources to prevent further losses, officials said. Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often blamed on poor safety standards and illegal construction.
In November 2023, a fire at a shopping mall in Karachi killed 10 people and injured 22 others, the Associated Press reported.