KARACHI: Despite hours of continuous firefighting efforts, the blaze has yet to be fully controlled, while parts of the building have already collapsed. The massive fire that broke out late at night at Gul Plaza, a busy shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, has turned into a prolonged and deadly emergency, raising serious concerns about the safety of dozens of people feared to be trapped inside.
In this regard, the rescue authorities reported that at least five people, including a firefighter, lost their lives due to suffocation caused by heavy smoke. Twenty others sustained injuries, several of whom remain in critical condition and are being treated at Civil Hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Asif, Faraz, and Aamir, while identification of others is underway.
In such a case, the fire originated on the ground floor, where shops and warehouses were completely engulfed. The intensity of the flames prompted authorities to declare it a third-degree fire, leading to the deployment of fire tenders from across the city.
The rescue teams are using snorkel vehicles to evacuate those trapped at higher levels of the structure. The government officials mentioned that the fire has spread up to the third floor of the plaza, which also includes a basement market, complicating rescue operations.
The President of the Gul Plaza Traders Association claimed that between 80 and 100 people may still be inside the building, a statement that has added to growing anxiety among families and business owners gathered near the site.
In such a scenario, the Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassan-ul-Haseeb Khan stated that emergency teams responded immediately after receiving reports of a fire in nearby shops. Firefighting and rescue operations are ongoing, with officials estimating that only 40 percent of the fire has been brought under control so far.
Meanwhile, the Water Corporation has imposed an emergency at key hydrants on the directives of its CEO, ensuring uninterrupted water supply to firefighting teams.
As flames continue to reignite and debris falls from the damaged structure, authorities admit that they have yet to access the interior of the building raising a troubling question.
