Pakistan: 26 Dead, 81 Missing After Gul Plaza Fire in Karachi

At least 26 people have been confirmed dead, and 81 others are still missing after a massive fire tore through the Gul Plaza shopping centre on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, authorities said.

The blaze, which erupted late on January 17, left the multi-storey commercial building structurally unstable and raised grave concerns about safety and emergency response.

Firefighters brought the inferno under control after nearly 34 hours, but rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing amid fears that more victims could still be trapped beneath the charred debris. Search teams, backed by the Army, Rangers and civil administration, are cautiously entering the unstable structure as engineers assess safety risks.

According to officials, 26 bodies have been recovered so far, with only six victims formally identified. The remaining recovered bodies will require DNA testing for positive identification. Initial reports of 69 missing persons were later revised to 81, based on complaints registered by families at a missing persons desk established by local authorities, according to ARY News.

Authorities have sealed off all entry points to the fire-ravaged building, allowing only authorised personnel inside as heavy machinery clears debris to create safer search pathways. DNA sample collection from relatives is underway to assist in identifying the victims.

Survivors recounted harrowing scenes as thick smoke and darkness hindered escape efforts. One witness said that although Gul Plaza had 26 gates, 24 were locked after 10 p.m., leaving only two exit routes, a factor that contributed to people becoming trapped when the fire spread rapidly. Another shopkeeper described entering the building to pull out unconscious victims, lamenting the absence of emergency exits that turned the complex into a “death trap.”

Constructed in 1980 and later expanded with an additional floor in 1998, Gul Plaza housed more than 1,200 shops, including outlets selling clothing, electrical goods, cosmetics and crockery. Over the years, parts of the building were modified, raising questions about compliance with safety regulations and the adequacy of fire prevention measures.

In response to the tragedy, the Sindh government announced financial assistance of Rs 10 million for the families of those killed, with compensation to start being disbursed promptly. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah described the incident as a major tragedy and reiterated that rescue teams are working tirelessly to reach missing persons.

As Karachi mourns, authorities face mounting pressure to investigate potential safety lapses and improve fire-safety enforcement standards in commercial buildings across the city.