The death toll from a fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi, Pakistan, is expected to rise after the discovery of body parts believed to belong to over a dozen people, officials said Wednesday.
Karachi Shopping Plaza Fire
Searchers reached a shop within Gul Plaza in Karachi where many had sought refuge during Saturday’s blaze.
Prior to the discovery, 29 deaths had been confirmed, according to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed. The city’s main hospital has received more than two dozen body parts during the fifth day of searches.
Government administrator Javed Nabi Khoso estimates the remains recovered from the shop may belong to 15 to 25 people. “This is the first time such a large number of remains have been found in one location since the fire,” he said.
Senior rescue official Abid Jamal Sheikh also indicated the body parts could represent more than a dozen individuals, but stressed official confirmation is pending.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with police suggesting a short circuit as a possible trigger.
The first funeral was held Wednesday for Shahroz Iqbal, a shop owner who died in the fire.
Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often attributed to poor safety standards, lax enforcement, and illegal construction. A mall fire in November 2023 resulted in 10 deaths and 22 injuries. Pakistan’s deadliest industrial disaster occurred in 2012, when a garment factory fire killed at least 260 people.
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