At least six people have died after a massive fire tore through a commercial centre in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, as firefighters battled for hours to contain the blaze in the historic heart of the metropolis.
Emergency crews worked through the night on Sunday to extinguish the fire, which reduced large sections of the shopping complex to rubble. Video footage circulating on social media showed towering flames engulfing the building while firefighters attempted to prevent the blaze from spreading through the densely packed commercial district.
Hundreds of people gathered at the scene, including shocked shop owners who watched their businesses burn. The fire broke out late on Saturday evening at Gul Plaza, after rescue services received an emergency call shortly after 10:30 pm local time reporting flames inside ground-floor shops.
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 said that by the time crews arrived, the fire had already spread rapidly from the lower floors to the upper levels, consuming almost the entire structure.
According to a forensic official at the Civil Hospital in Karachi, the bodies of six victims were brought to the hospital, while 11 injured people were treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Police activated mass-casualty emergency protocols as the situation escalated.
Images from inside the shopping center revealed charred storefronts, collapsed debris and a glowing orange haze as flames continued to burn in parts of the building. Local media reported that sections of the structure had already collapsed, raising fears among rescue officials that the entire building could give way.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, and authorities have launched an investigation as emergency teams continue to secure the site and assess the damage.
Follow the latest news on Google News
