In pictures: Smoke, rubble and grief after Gul Plaza blaze

Fire crews and heavy machinery move through rubble at Karachi’s Gul Plaza site

By
Web Desk

Updated Monday Jan 19 2026

Smoke still lingered around the wreck of the Gul Plaza shopping centre on Monday as rescue teams moved into cooling and debris-clearing operations, with officials confirming the death toll had climbed to 15 after around 33 hours of firefighting.

A help desk set up by the Sindh government said the number of missing persons rose to 73, while District South DIG confirmed the recovery of another body, taking the fatalities to 15 amid fears more victims could still be trapped inside the damaged building.

Workers remove debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Workers remove debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Police officers, rescue workers and shopkeepers gather, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Police officers, rescue workers and shopkeepers gather, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
An earthmover removes debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
An earthmover removes debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Members from Karachi Municipal Corporation watch as smoke rises from a smouldering building following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Members from Karachi Municipal Corporation watch as smoke rises from a smouldering building following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuter
Firefighters work next to smouldering remains following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
Firefighters work next to smouldering remains following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
Firefighters work next to smouldering remains following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi,  January 19, 2026. — Reuters
Firefighters work next to smouldering remains following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi,  January 19, 2026. — Reuters 
A woman is comforted as she mourns six missing family members who were there shopping for a wedding ceremony, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A woman is comforted as she mourns six missing family members who were there shopping for a wedding ceremony, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A woman speaks to reporters (not pictured) as she mourns six missing family members who were there shopping for a wedding ceremony, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A woman speaks to reporters (not pictured) as she mourns six missing family members who were there shopping for a wedding ceremony, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A man grieves after he lost his shop, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A man grieves after he lost his shop, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A man moves past debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters
A man moves past debris following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre in Karachi, January 19, 2026. — Reuters