Syed Asad Raza, the South deputy inspector general of police, reported to the Dawn newspaper on Monday that rescuers had recovered eight more bodies since Sunday evening, increasing the death toll to six to fourteen.
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A total of five bodies have been transported to a local hospital, according to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, according to the daily.
Police and rescue teams have contacted families to get details, and they are tracing the 54 to 59 missing people using mobile phone data.
The southern Sindh province’s capital and largest city is Karachi, Pakistan.
More than 70 people are missing, according to Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who made the visit on Monday.
According to Tessori, “the reports of more than 70 missing persons are incredibly concerning and a major tragedy,” adding that the incident has now “becomes a national tragedy.”
The Gul Plaza shopping mall, a crowded commercial complex, experienced late on Saturday’s fire. After about 36 hours, firefighters managed to control the massive fire, allowing rescue teams to enter the structure to free those trapped inside.
However, officials cautioned against the building’s current extreme instability and potential collapse.
As flames continued to erupt on a portion of the mall, rescue chief operating officer Abid Jalal reported to Dawn later that day.
Officials initially believed an electrical short in one of the stores was the cause of the fire, but later claimed the cause has not been determined and that a police investigation is ongoing.
Local media members and shop owners expressed anger among traders who claimed decades of lost livelihoods had been lost due to the delayed response and equipment shortages and water.
Karachi has a history of deadly fires that are frequently brought on by illegal construction and poor safety standards. Ten people died and 22 others were hurt in a fire at a city mall in November 2023.
Source: Aljazeera
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