Pakistan: Three killed as massive fire engulfs dozens of shops in Karachi mall

Deadly blaze engulfs Karachi shopping mall

A huge fire tore through a multistorey shopping mall in Karachi late on Saturday, leaving at least three people dead and around a dozen injured, according to police and rescue officials.

Emergency crews were dispatched to Gul Plaza shortly after 10 p.m. local time after reports of the blaze. Local media said most shopkeepers were in the process of shutting their outlets or had already left when the fire erupted and spread rapidly through the building.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Police said a probe would be launched once the blaze was fully brought under control. Officials noted that many buildings in Karachi, as well as elsewhere in Pakistan, lack adequate fire prevention and firefighting systems, often leading to heavy losses and casualties.

Television footage showed firefighters in protective gear battling the flames as multiple fire engines used ladders, water cannons and hoses to reach the upper floors. Flames were seen bursting from windows and balconies, while thick black smoke rose into the night sky and was visible from several blocks away, an Associated Press reporter at the scene said.

Authorities said the fire spread rapidly after erupting in an area of the mall where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household goods, which helped fuel the flames.

Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where such incidents are common. In November 2023, a fire tore through a shopping mall in the city, killing 10 people and injuring 22 others.