KARACHI: At least five people were killed after a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi on Saturday evening, officials said.
The fire, which is still raging, has lasted for more than 10 hours, during which part of the building collapsed on Sunday morning due to the intense heat, according to emergency services.
The fire chief said about 60 percent of the fire at Gul Plaza had been brought under control, but firefighters were still unable to enter the building due to the extreme heat.
He added that the intense temperature inside the structure prevents access to the interior, hampering rescue and search efforts.
The officer further said that the place was closed from all sides and did not have any proper ventilation system, complicating firefighting operations.
Talk to PK Press Club NewsSouthern District Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said the fire broke out again at the rear of the first floor of the building.
โThere are fears that people are on the first floor and mezzanines,โ Khoso said, adding that rescue teams were unable to reach those floors.
Noting that there is no way of exit in case of emergency, the DC said an investigation is underway to find out why an emergency exit was not made in the building.
โWe will check the map and other things with the relevant institutions.โ
โIt has been requested to ensure that fire extinguishers [in building]but they were not present in the building,โ the official added.
People are still trapped
Meanwhile, Sindh Emergency Service Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalaluddin Shaikh said 20 firefighters and four snorkels were participating in firefighting operations from three sides of Gul Plaza.
Noting that all available technical equipment is being used to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, the rescue official added that the materials stored inside the square make it difficult for rescue teams to control the fire.
Firefighters fear several people may still be trapped inside the shopping center.
โWe cannot say at this stage how many people are still trapped inside the building,โ the official added.
Shaikh added that part of the rear of the building collapsed, increasing the risk for both those trapped and rescuers.
The presence of air conditioning workshops in the building creates additional challenges for firefighters, he said.
The fire quickly spread inside the old building due to some flammable materials stored there, he said, confirming that due to the intense heat, a pillar of the building collapsed, raising fears that other parts of the structure could collapse.
Meanwhile, revealing details of the evacuation, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said 25 people have so far been evacuated from the building.
Recurring fire
Previously, authorities said hours of firefighting efforts stopped the fire from spreading further, but it still reached the third floor before being brought under control.
Shortly after firefighters declared the fire under control, the fire broke out again with long flames coming out of the first floor.
Video footage showed flames engulfing several stores as firefighters worked to put them out.
The fire chief said people trapped inside the mall were evacuated using snorkels.
Firefighting operations were temporarily suspended early Sunday before resuming 15 minutes later.
A powerful explosion took place inside the premises, after which the fire broke out again, according to the fire chief, adding that the explosion was due to a gas leak.
Sindh Rangers personnel, according to the spokesperson, are also participating in the rescue efforts alongside other emergency services.
The cause of the fire remains to be determined.
Government response
Addressing the incident, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed said all available resources were being provided for the rescue operation.
The government is doing everything possible to extinguish the fire as quickly as possible, the spokesperson added.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who later arrived at the spot to inspect the relief and rescue operation, wrote a report on the incident and expressed concern over the fire.
He asked relevant authorities to intensify rescue and relief operations.
Talk to PK Press Club NewsGovernor Tessori said more than 100 people were believed to be trapped inside the burning building that houses about 1,200 stores.
โOur priority is to save the lives of those trapped in the building,โ he said.
He described the fire as “no ordinary”, saying it had ravaged the building on all four sides.
Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed grief over the loss of lives and property damage caused by the fire.
The PPP leader offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the fire.
Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has called for creation of alternative traffic routes to ensure safe passage for residents.
He also asked the city’s SSP to investigate the cause of the fire and asked authorities to prevent the flames from spreading further.
The minister stressed the need to keep access routes clear for fire engines and emergency personnel.
Hours after the fire broke out, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab expressed sadness over the loss of life caused by the tragedy.
โWe stand with the families of those who died during this difficult time,โ Wahab said.
Traders’ concerns
Meanwhile, traders have expressed concerns over the rescue efforts, with Gul Plaza Traders Association president Tanveer Pasta saying: PK Press Club News that nearly 80 to 100 people were trapped inside the building after the deadly fire.
All customers came out of the building, but staff and traders were still inside, Pasta said, adding that the building houses 1,200 shops and the fire caused losses worth billions of rupees.
He criticized the response of senior government officials, saying neither the chief minister nor the mayor of Karachi had contacted the traders. โOnly the Sindh governor has reached here, no one else,โ he said.
He said no emergency personnel had yet entered the building and the fire continued to burn on three sides of the structure.
The fire apparently broke out in an artificial flower shop located on the ground floor, he added.
