The death toll from a devastating fire at Karachi’s iconic Gul Plaza shopping mall has climbed to 14, following the recovery of eight more bodies from the debris on Sunday. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed that over 60 people remain missing, raising fears of a significantly higher casualty count. The fire, which broke out Saturday night, ravaged nearly 1,200 shops across multiple floors.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, the building’s structural integrity has been compromised, causing parts of the front and rear facades to collapse. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has declared the incident a “national tragedy.” Preliminary investigations point toward a short circuit, exacerbated by the absence of fire safety measures—a common issue in Karachi, where a recent audit revealed that 98% of commercial buildings lack adequate firefighting systems.