Islamabad, Pakistan – A fire that tore through a shopping centre over the weekend in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, has killed at least 23 people, including a firefighter, as rescuers race to find dozens more still missing.
The city’s biggest fire in more than a decade broke out late on Saturday at Gul Plaza, a three-storey commercial building home to more than 1,200 shops selling a wide range of goods. It took more than 24 hours to fully extinguish the blaze.
City authorities said parts of the building have collapsed and debris and poor ventilation are severely hampering rescue efforts.
Mayor Murtaza Wahab said a formal inquiry would be launched into the fire under the supervision of the city’s commissioner.
Speaking to a private news channel on Monday night, Wahab confirmed that more than 60 people remained missing and the search operation is ongoing after the firefighting operation has been completed. “Fire flares up again during the cooling process,” he said, describing one of the challenges faced by emergency personnel.
Wahab also said the government of Sindh, the province where Karachi is located, has announced compensation of 10 million rupees ($35,000) for each family that has lost a loved one in the tragedy.
The Gul Plaza fire is the latest in a series of major incidents in Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial hub and home to nearly 25 million people.
Here, we look at what is known about what happened at Gul Plaza, why rescue efforts have been so difficult and what lies behind Karachi’s persistent fire safety challenges.
Located in Karachi’s historic Saddar area along one of the city’s main arteries, MA Jinnah Road, Gul Plaza is a well-known business centre. Its shops sell jewellery, household items, carpets, bags, crockery and other goods.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate
