Pakistan: Six Killed, 20 Injured In Massive Fire At Karachi’s Gul Plaza Mall | World News

At least six people, including a firefighter, died and 20 people were injured after a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, late on Saturday night, The Express Tribune reported on Sunday, citing officials.

According to The Express Tribune, firefighting efforts continue as the fire is not fully under control.

Rescue officials said that the injured died due to suffocation caused by the dense smoke inside the building, and the injured, many of whom were reported to be in critical condition, were transferred to Karachi General Hospital.

According to the Karachi Fire Marshal, the ground floor shops and warehouses were completely engulfed in flames, prompting the authorities to declare the incident as a third-degree fire, The Express Tribune reported.

Fire trucks were called from all over the city and snorkel vehicles were also deployed to rescue people trapped in the building.

Authorities said the fire spread to the third floor of the plaza, which also includes the basement. Rescue officials warned that the structure was dangerously weakened by the fire and could collapse at any time.

The Gul Plaza Shopkeepers Association said 80 to 100 people were believed to be still trapped inside, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan Rescue 1122 spokesman Hassanul Haseeb Khan said that after receiving the fire report, fire and rescue teams, ambulances and fire trucks were immediately dispatched.

Chief Officer Humayun Khan stated that approximately 40 percent of the fire was under control.

However, the fire, which broke out about eight hours ago, continued to flare despite all efforts, making it difficult for firefighters to enter the building, The Express Tribune reported.

The Karachi Water Board said an emergency was declared at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) and Safoora taps to ensure uninterrupted water supply to firefighters, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident, expressed their condolences to the families of the victims and instructed the authorities to provide immediate aid and best medical care to the injured.

Meanwhile, according to The Express Tribune, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed his sorrow over the loss of life and material damage and instructed the Sindh Chief Minister and Karachi Mayor to use all available resources for rescue and firefighting operations and conduct a transparent investigation.

Authorities said rescue, cooling and security operations will continue until the fire is completely extinguished and the situation of all trapped people is announced.