Mall Fire in Pakistan Leaves 11 Dead, Over 60 Missing

Firefighters in Karachi began searching on January 19 for more than 60 people still missing after a huge blaze destroyed a shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city, with the death toll rising to 11.

The fire erupted late on January 17 at the sprawling Gul Plaza shopping centre in the city’s business district and continued burning for over 24 hours, hindering rescue operations in the densely packed area. After a day of intense firefighting, crews moved to cooling and clearing debris on January 18, but officials warned that victims could still be trapped inside.

Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed told Reuters the death toll had risen to 11, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said more than 60 people remained unaccounted for.

Firefighters said the building’s poor ventilation, housing more than 1,200 shops, allowed thick smoke to fill the mall and slowed efforts to reach those inside.

«It appears to have been caused by a circuit breaker,» Sindh province police chief Javed Alam Odho said.

He added that the market’s layout and the presence of flammable materials such as carpets and blankets meant parts of the blaze continued to smoulder. By January 17 evening, large sections of the building had collapsed, leaving twisted metal and debris across the street, along with fallen air conditioning units and shop signboards. Rescue workers warned the remaining structure was unstable and could collapse further.

Rescue services said the first emergency call came at 10:38pm on January 17, reporting fires in ground-floor shops. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had spread to upper floors and engulfed much of the building.

Shopkeepers and residents told local media that a delayed response and shortages of water and equipment hampered early firefighting efforts, fuelling anger among traders who said decades of livelihoods had been destroyed.

Kursiv also reports that Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in two southern regions after wildfires killed at least 18 people.