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Death Toll in Pakistan Shopping Center Fire Rises to 24 as Dozens Remain Missing

By The South Asia Times

KARACHI — Rescue workers on Monday recovered more bodies from the debris of Gul Plaza shopping center in Pakistan southern port city of Karchi, raising the death toll to 24, while dozens of people remain unaccounted for, local broadcaster Geo News reported.

The latest bodies were found on the building’s first floor, where search and rescue operations are continuing after the blaze was extinguished following nearly 33 hours of intense firefighting.

Authorities fear more victims may still be trapped inside the structure.

According to a help desk established by the Sindh government, the number of missing persons has climbed to 73, after three additional names were added to the list.

Tensions rose at the site as a large crowd gathered near the fire-damaged building, with protesters attempting to enter the premises and demanding justice for the victims. Police deployed additional forces to disperse the crowd and cordon off the area, warning that several pillars had been weakened by the fire and could collapse at any moment.

The fire broke out late Saturday at the multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping center in Karachi’s busy business district and burned for more than 24 hours, hampering rescue efforts in the densely populated area. After firefighters brought the inferno under control, operations shifted to cooling and debris removal.

Fire officials said the building’s poor ventilation, coupled with its layout housing more than 1,200 shops, caused thick smoke to spread rapidly, slowing access to people trapped inside. Parts of the structure collapsed during the blaze, forcing rescuers to cut through windows and demolish walls to reach affected areas.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirmed the fatalities, adding that five of the recovered bodies are beyond identification, complicating efforts to determine the full human toll of one of Karachi’s deadliest commercial fires in recent years.