At least six killed in Pakistan as fire rips through Karachi shopping mall

According to Pakistani officials, a fire that tore through a shopping mall in Karachi caused at least six fatalities and about 20 injuries as firefighters tried to control it.

The Gul Plaza shopping mall, a crowded commercial complex, caught fire on Saturday, and it stayed on fire for hours. Authorities claimed that about 30% of the fire was under control by early on Sunday.

Syed Asad Raza, a South Deputy Inspector General, reported to the Dawn newspaper that the death toll had increased from three to five. A statement from the medical complex The Edhi Foundation later confirmed a sixth death.

People are feared that they could still be trapped inside the mall, which is estimated to have around 1,200 shops. The intensity of the fire, according to the Edhi Foundation, hampered rescue efforts and caused a portion of the structure to collapse.

Initial investigations suggested the fire started as a result of a short circuit in one of the stores, according to Garden District police officer Mohsin Raza, who said the fire spread quickly throughout the complex.

He claimed that a thorough investigation would be required to establish the exact cause of the damage and that the structure must be secured to stop further damage.

Both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences for the deceased’s death.

Sharif directed authorities to take “all possible measures” to safeguard lives and property, assist affected traders, and provide medical care for the injured, according to a statement released by PTV.

Zardari urged the Sindh province’s government to offer “immediate and every possible assistance,” stating that “no stone should be left unturned in providing the best medical facilities to the injured.”