The death toll from the Gul Plaza shopping-centre fire in Karachi has risen to 71 amid ongoing search-and-recovery operations. Authorities have identified 16 victims so far; DNA tests on 49 samples could yield as many as 40 additional identifications. Officials say the fire began in the basement and spread quickly because there was no active suppression system, and most exit gates were locked—only three of 16 were open. Search teams say operations are nearing completion and 77 people remain listed as missing.
Karachi's Gul Plaza Blaze Deaths Rise to 71 as Locked Exits and No Suppression System Hinder Rescue
The death toll rose to 71 and likely will go higher from the Gul Plaza fire that occurred Saturday night in Karachi, Pakistan. Photo by Shahzaib Akber/EPA
An updated report released Friday raised the death toll from last week's fire at Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan, to 71. Officials say the tragedy was worsened by the absence or non-operation of a fire-suppression system and multiple locked exit gates that impeded escape and rescue efforts.
Police surgeon Summaiya Syed confirmed that 16 victims have been formally identified so far. Nine of those identifications required DNA testing. Authorities have processed DNA analysis on 49 samples; officials say matches could potentially identify as many as 40 more people if comparisons are successful.
“The search in the wreckage will be completed today,” South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso told reporters on Friday.
Khoso said search-and-recovery operations were in their final stages and that 77 people remained reported missing. More bodies are believed to remain inside different parts of the plaza, and the official toll may rise as recovery continues.
No Active Fire Suppression
Investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the blaze, but officials reported that it began in the building's basement and spread rapidly. Authorities say the spread was aggravated because there was no active fire-suppression system—either it was never installed or it was not activated during the fire.
“Either the fire safety system was not present in the building, or it was not activated,” said Wajid Sibghatullah Mahar, director-general of Sindh Rescue 1122.
Mahar added that the ground floor still needed thorough searching and that officials hoped to recover any remaining victims there. The Sindh Building and Control Authority led the search-and-recovery operation, focusing on the final 10%–15% of the structure that remained to be combed for victims.
Locked Exits and Crowds Hampered Evacuation
The 70,000-square-foot Gul Plaza housed roughly 1,200 retail units and was particularly crowded during Karachi's traditional wedding season, the BBC reported. The fire broke out late on Saturday as many shop staff were preparing to close; most of the centre's gates were locked.
Only three of the plaza's 16 exits were open when the blaze began. Dense crowds of shoppers and numerous stalls and temporary structures inside the mall made it harder for people to locate open exits and flee safely. Firefighters worked for about 24 hours to extinguish flames after the fire spread rapidly through the building.
Authorities continue recovery and identification efforts and have appealed for public cooperation with DNA matching and missing-person reports as they finalize the search.
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