Five killed as parts of Gul Plaza collapse after hours-long blaze; rescue efforts underway

KARACHI: At least five people were killed after a massive fire broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping mall on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road late on Saturday night, officials said.

The blaze, still raging, has continued for over 10 hours, during which multiple portions of the building collapsed on Sunday morning due to intense heat, according to rescue officials.

Hospital officials have confirmed that at least three bodies have been brought to the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, and two at the Burns Ward.

As many as 15 injured have been brought to the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, of which 14 have been discharged. Two wounded were brought to Jinnah Hospital and were discharged after receiving relevant medical aid.

The chief fire officer said that around 60% of the blaze at Gul Plaza has been brought under control, but firefighters are still unable to enter the building due to extreme heat.

He added that the intense temperature inside the structure is preventing internal access, hampering rescue and search efforts.

The officer further said that the plaza is sealed from all sides and lacks any proper ventilation system, complicating firefighting operations.

Speaking to Geo News, District South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said that the fire has erupted again in the back of the first floor of the building.

"There are fears that people are on the first and mezzanine floors," said Khoso, adding that the rescue teams have not been able to reach these floors.

Noting that there is no way to exit in case of an emergency, the DC said that investigation is underway to find out why an emergency exit was not made in the building.

"We will check the map and other things with the relevant institutions."

"It was directed to ensure fire extinguishers [in building], but they were not present in the building," the official added.

People still trapped

Meanwhile, Sindh Emergency Service Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh said that 20 fire tenders and four snorkels are taking part in firefighting operations from three sides of Gul Plaza.

Noting that all available technical equipment is being used to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, the rescue official added that materials stored inside the plaza are making it difficult for rescue teams to control the blaze.

Fire brigade officials feared that several people were still trapped inside the mall.

"We cannot say at this stage how many people are still trapped inside the building," the official added.

Shaikh added that a portion of the building’s rear side has collapsed, increasing the risk for both trapped individuals and rescue workers.

The presence of air conditioning shops in the building is creating additional challenges for firefighters, he said.

The blaze quickly spread inside the old building because of certain flammable material stored there, he said, confirming that due to the intense heat, a pillar of the building collapsed, raising fears that more parts of the structure could cave in.

Separately, revealing details of evacuation, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza has said 25 people have been evacuated from the building so far.

Recurring blaze

Earlier, authorities had said that hours of firefighting efforts had stopped the blaze from spreading further, but it had nevertheless reached the third floor before being contained.

Soon after the fire brigade said the fire had been contained, conflagration again erupted with long flames coming out from the first floor.

Video footage showed flames engulfing several shops as firefighters worked to extinguish them.

The chief fire officer said that people trapped inside the shopping mall were evacuated with the help of snorkels.

The firefighting operation was temporarily paused in the early hours of Sunday before being resumed 15 minutes later.

A powerful explosion took place inside the premises after which the blaze further broke out, according to the chief fire officer, adding that the explosion was caused by gas leakage.

Sindh Rangers personnel, as per the spokesperson, are also taking part in rescue efforts alongside other emergency services.

The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. 

Govt response

Addressing the incident, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said that all available resources are being provided for the rescue operation.

The government is making every effort to extinguish the blaze as quickly as possible, the spokesperson added.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who later arrived on the spot to inspect the relief and rescue operation, has directed a report on the incident and expressed concern over the fire.

He has directed relevant authorities to ramp up rescue and relief operations.

Talking to Geo News, Governor Tessori said that more than 100 people are reported to be trapped inside the burning building that houses around 1,200 shops.

"Our priority is to save the lives of those trapped in the building," he said.

He described the fire as "not ordinary", saying it had engulfed the building from all four sides.

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of life and property damage in the conflagration.

The PPP chief offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the blaze.

Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has called for alternative traffic routes to be established to ensure safe passage for residents.

He has also directed the SSP City to investigate the cause of the fire and instructed officials to prevent the flames from spreading further.

The minister underscored the need to keep access routes clear for fire brigade vehicles and emergency personnel.

Hours after the fire broke out, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed his sorrow over the loss of life in the tragedy.

"We stand with the families of those who died during this difficult time," Wahab said.

Traders' concerns

Meanwhile, traders have expressed concerns over the rescue efforts with Gul Plaza Traders' Association President Tanveer Pasta telling Geo News that nearly 80 to 100 people are believed to be trapped inside the building after the deadly fire.

All customers exited the building, but staff and shopkeepers were still thought to be inside, said Pasta, adding that the building houses 1,200 shops and the fire has caused losses worth billions of rupees.

He criticised the response from senior government officials, saying neither the chief minister nor the mayor of Karachi contacted the traders. "Only Governor Sindh has come so far, no one else," he said.

He claimed that no rescue personnel had yet entered the building, and that the fire continues to burn on three sides of the structure.

The fire reportedly started in a shop selling artificial flowers located on the ground floor, he added.