Karachi mall fire death toll rises to 23 as rescuers search for dozens missing

KARACHI, Pakistan — The death toll from a massive fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi has risen to 23 as of Monday, with dozens remaining missing, police said.

Karachi Shopping Plaza Fire Claims 23 Lives

Firefighters extinguished the blaze at the multistory plaza late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it began, allowing rescue teams to enter the building. Authorities fear the death toll will rise as they search for 46 more people, according to city police chief Asad Raza.

Only six bodies have been identified so far, Raza said Monday. The remaining victims will require DNA testing as the “bodies were beyond recognition,” according to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed. Doctors are collecting DNA samples from relatives of the missing.

Local media reports indicate at least 26 people have died in the blaze.

Sindh provincial Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said rescue teams are searching for survivors and the deceased. He stated that those killed included a firefighter and that the government will provide 10 million rupees ($36,000) in compensation to the family of each person killed.

Rescuers continued to struggle to reach parts of the severely damaged building Monday evening, where some people were believed to be trapped after losing contact with their families the previous day. City Mayor Murtaza Wahab said the rescue operation would continue until all missing persons are accounted for.

The fire spread quickly through shops storing cosmetics, garments and plastic goods, said Karachi’s chief rescue officer, Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh.

Relatives of the missing waited outside the burned-out plaza Monday, hoping for news.

Qaiser Ali said his wife, daughter-in-law and sister were shopping for an upcoming wedding event on Saturday when the fire broke out. He reported speaking to all three by mobile phone on Sunday before they went silent.

“I don’t know what has happened to them or whether they are alive,” Ali told the AP. “We are praying that all those missing come out safely,” he said, as he continued trying to contact his family.

Saifur Rehman said he escaped the building when the fire broke out, but his brother Mohammad Abrar, who owns a shop in the plaza, was left behind. Rehman expressed fear for his brother’s safety.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Police said an investigation is underway.

Karachi has a history of deadly fires, often attributed to poor safety standards and illegal construction. In November 2023, a fire at a shopping mall in the city killed 10 people and injured 22 others. A massive fire at a garment factory in Karachi in 2012 killed 260 people.