14 confirmed dead, over 50 missing as Karachi’s Gul Plaza building turns structurally unsafe
The devastating Gul Plaza fire on MA Jinnah Road, Karachi, has finally been brought under control after 36 continuous hours of firefighting, officials confirmed on Monday. The blaze, declared a third-degree fire, caused the partial collapse of the building and left it dangerously unstable.
According to fire brigade and police officials, the death toll has climbed to 14, including a firefighter, while more than 54 people remain missing. Rescue teams recovered additional human remains overnight, including those of a child. Several bodies remain unidentified and have been shifted to Edhi mortuary for DNA identification.
Chief Fire Officer Humayun Ahmed stated that while the main fire has been extinguished, cooling operations are ongoing. Firefighting efforts were temporarily halted in some sections after alarming structural noises indicated a high risk of collapse.
Police officials confirmed that mobile tracking and family coordination are underway to trace missing persons. Hospitals treated over 30 injured, many affected by smoke inhalation and burns.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and several political leaders visited the site, expressing grief and pledging compensation for traders, many of whom lost businesses worth billions of rupees. Authorities announced fire safety audits of commercial buildings across Karachi once operations conclude.
Rescue teams, Rangers, Pakistan Navy, KMC machinery, Rescue 1122, and the Water Corporation remain engaged as debris removal begins under strict safety measures.
