More than 35 hours after a massive fire engulfed Gul Plaza in Karachi, the inferno has been fully extinguished, as per the authorities, with rescue workers racing against time amid the constant risk of collapse.
The death toll has climbed to 14, including a firefighter, while around 74 people remain missing.
Rescue officials confirmed that 14 bodies have been recovered so far from Gul Plaza, with eight more bodies found during the latest search phase. The number of fatalities continues to rise as rescue teams reach deeper into the debris.
All recovered bodies have been declared unrecognizable, according to the Edhi Foundation, and have been moved to Amanta Edhi cold storage, officials said. Five severed human organs were also transferred to the morgue, where DNA testing will be carried out for identification.
The deputy commissioner (DC) South claimed that the fire had been completely brought under control, adding that the cooling operations were continuing even after the fire had been extinguished. He also said that the last known location of 31 missing persons was Gul Plaza.
Over 70 still missing
Rescue sources said that around 74 people are still missing, heightening fears that the death toll may increase further. Officials stressed that the search operation will continue until every missing person is accounted for.
Time is “critically running out,” rescue officials warned, as intermittent flames and structural instability slowed down progress earlier in the morning
Fire reignites as building remains unstable
Despite sustained efforts, the fire reignited multiple times on Monday morning, including on the ground floor and third floor of Gul Plaza. Firefighters were forced to temporarily halt cooling operations after the building shook due to structural stress, raising alarms about an imminent collapse.
After an immediate inspection, firefighting operations resumed. Officials said the intermittent flames continue to erupt, preventing full containment.
Authorities confirmed that the ground and mezzanine floors have been completely destroyed, while the upper two floors have been reduced to ashes. Around 60% of the building has collapsed, with the remaining 40% severely damaged.
Several sections of the plaza have already caved in, and rescue teams say the structure could collapse at any moment, posing serious risks to firefighters and search personnel.
Large-scale emergency response
At least 15 fire tenders from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, along with three snorkels and two water bowsers, remain deployed at the site. Later updates confirmed the involvement of 22 fire tenders, 15 water bowsers, and multiple ambulances.
Rescue sources also confirmed that Rescue 1122, Pakistan ambulances, and heavy machinery are actively engaged in the operation.
The Pakistan Army and the Frontier Works Organization have joined rescue efforts, deploying heavy machinery to remove debris from the rear of the building.
A special engineering team from the 25 Mechanized Division has been placed on 30-minute alert, while teams from 5 Corps Headquarters are assisting in debris clearance once the fire is fully extinguished.
Fire Officer Zafar Khan told Samaa TV that seven bodies were recovered from the first floor, and the search operation will now be intensified. Cooling operations continued through the night as firefighters worked in rotating shifts.
Rescue teams have entered the building through two separate entrances to speed up the search, despite the high risk posed by falling debris. He added that the building had collapsed from both sides.
Injured treated, area sealed off
Officials confirmed that 40 people were injured, with most of them discharged from hospitals after receiving medical aid. Meanwhile, security agencies cleared all civilians from the surrounding area to ensure safety.
Only rescue workers, police, Rangers, and relevant officials are now allowed near Gul Plaza. Victims’ families are being directed to a complaint camp set up nearby.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori visited the scene along with Farooq Sattar, reviewing ongoing rescue operations.
The governor announced that an investigation will be conducted into the delay in controlling the fire, stressing that accountability is necessary but should not turn into political point-scoring. “Like a common citizen, I am also asking questions,” he said, adding that lives were still at stake inside the building.
Operation to continue
Authorities reiterated that the rescue and firefighting operation will continue until the fire is completely extinguished. Only after full control will large-scale debris removal begin to recover any remaining victims.
As Karachi watches anxiously, rescue teams continue to battle flames, smoke, and collapsing concrete in a desperate effort to save lives.
