Fourth Day of Search in Karachi Shopping Plaza Fire as Hopes Dim for Dozens Missing
Hopes of locating survivors from a catastrophic shopping plaza fire in Karachi have significantly diminished as search and rescue operations entered their fourth consecutive day on Tuesday. Officials confirmed that prospects of finding anyone alive are fading rapidly amid the extensive damage.
Rescuers Reach Most Severely Damaged Areas
Emergency teams have now accessed some of the worst-affected sections within the multistory Gul Plaza building, located in Pakistan's largest city and the capital of southern Sindh province. However, these areas have either completely collapsed or been critically weakened since the blaze erupted on Saturday. The precise causes of both the fire and subsequent structural failures remain under investigation, according to authorities.
Tragic Recovery Efforts and Identification Challenges
Police and hospital officials report that rescue workers have recovered the remains of at least twenty-three individuals so far, with many victims burned beyond recognition. In numerous instances, only fragmented body parts have been found, necessitating DNA testing to establish identities. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that forensic procedures are currently underway to identify all recovered victims.
Scale of the Disaster and Missing Persons
The sprawling Gul Plaza complex housed approximately 1,200 retail units, predominantly selling imported clothing, cosmetics, and plastic household goods. Dozens of those reported missing are shop owners and customers who were present during the incident.
Senior police official Asad Raza stated that more than sixty-five people have been reported missing, with mobile phone data indicating at least thirty-one individuals were inside the plaza on the night of the fire. Authorities suspect that other missing persons may not have been carrying mobile devices, complicating tracking efforts.
Official Response and Rescue Operations
Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab announced that certain sections of the building have already been thoroughly searched, with heavy machinery now deployed to clear rubble from a portion that collapsed on Sunday. Mayor Wahab met with families of the missing, many visibly distressed, assuring them that every possible effort is being made to locate those still unaccounted for.
"We will continue this rescue operation until all missing persons are found," Wahab told reporters, emphasising the authorities' commitment to the ongoing mission.
Compensation and Historical Context of Karachi Fires
On Monday, Sindh provincial Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah declared that the government would provide 10 million rupees (approximately $36,000) in compensation to each family who lost a loved one in the tragedy. He noted that rescue teams were working around the clock and maintained some hope that trapped victims might still be found alive.
Karachi has a lengthy and tragic history of deadly fires, frequently attributed to inadequate safety standards, lax enforcement of regulations, and illegal construction practices. In November 2023, a shopping mall fire claimed ten lives and injured twenty-two others. One of Pakistan's deadliest industrial disasters occurred in 2012, when a garment factory fire in Karachi killed at least 260 people.
The community now watches with heavy hearts as operations continue, grappling with the devastating impact of another major fire incident in the city.
