Fire rages for 9 hours as officials fear 80–100 people may still be trapped inside
Shocking and disturbing footage from inside Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road, Karachi, has surfaced as a massive fire continues to burn more than nine hours after it first erupted.
Videos obtained by Daily Evening News show the initial moments of the blaze, with thick smoke rapidly filling the building. In one clip, a man can be heard shouting warnings to shopkeepers and customers, urging them to evacuate immediately, triggering scenes of panic and chaos.
The footage captures people running for their lives, pushing through crowds, and covering their faces with cloth to escape suffocating smoke. These visuals reflect the fear and helplessness that gripped the plaza within minutes.
Authorities have confirmed that five people have died due to suffocation, while more than 20 others were injured, several of whom remain in critical condition.
Firefighters and rescue officials warned that intense heat has severely damaged the building’s structure. Cracks have appeared in key pillars, raising fears that the plaza could collapse at any moment.
Adding to the concern, the President of the Gul Plaza Traders Association revealed that 80 to 100 people may still be inside the building, pushing the rescue operation into an extremely critical phase.
Emergency teams continue to battle the flames under dangerous conditions, racing against time to save those possibly trapped.
