At a Glance
- A 24-hour blaze at Karachi’s Gul Plaza killed at least 50 people and left 84 missing.
- The fire spread through more than 1,200 shops, engulfing the multi-level market.
- Investigators point to a short circuit as the likely cause.
- Why it matters: The tragedy highlights urgent safety gaps in Pakistan’s commercial districts.
A catastrophic fire broke out on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Gul Plaza in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. The blaze, which lasted for 24 hours, swept through more than 1,200 shops and has claimed at least 50 lives while leaving 84 people missing. The disaster has triggered a nationwide outcry over fire safety and building management.
The Fire and Immediate Impact
On the evening of Saturday, Jan. 17, a fire broke out at the Gul Plaza, a multi-level market that housed hundreds of small businesses. The flames spread rapidly, engulfing the entire building and forcing emergency services to work around the clock to contain the blaze. According to a report from News Of Los Angeles, the fire lasted for 24 hours before it was fully extinguished.
Firefighters described the scene as chaotic. “When we arrived, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames,” said Hassanul Haseeb, spokesperson for the Pakistan Emergency Services Department (Rescue 122). The report also noted that the building’s fire exits were insufficient and many stairways were locked, which hampered evacuation.
Search and Rescue Efforts
Following the fire, rescue teams combed through ash and rubble in a desperate search for survivors and the missing. The search continues as of Tuesday, Jan. 20, with first responders reporting that they have found bodies but have yet to locate many of the missing. The 84 missing persons are being tracked through CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and community outreach.
- 50 confirmed deaths
- 84 missing
- Search ongoing through ash and rubble
The search was complicated by the building’s layout and the fact that the fire had destroyed much of the infrastructure. Rescue teams have had to use specialized equipment, including thermal imaging cameras, to locate bodies and potential survivors.
Victims and Missing
Families and survivors have shared harrowing accounts of the night the fire erupted. One local, identified as Haroon, told the BBC that two of his three brothers had escaped, but one remains missing. “My brother called our parents from inside the plaza asking them to save him,” he said. “He also called his friends and appealed to them, but no one could save him.”
Another victim, Muhammad Qaiser, reported that his wife, sister, and daughter-in-law had yet to be found. “They had said that they were going to the market,” he told the BBC. “The last contact with them was at 20:00 when it was discovered that a fire had broken out. We do not know what happened to them.”
The community’s grief has turned into a demand for accountability. Witnesses told the BBC that there were not enough working fire exits and the densely packed spaces increased the fire’s deadly consequences. Business owners and urban planners have also accused authorities of a history of mismanagement of Karachi, according to reports from the New York Times.
Investigation and Causes
An investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing. Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho told reporters at the scene that the fire seemed to have started because of a short circuit at one of the shops, as reported by the Pakistani newspaper Dawn. The investigation is being led by the chief minister of the Sindh Province, Murad Ali Shah, who has launched a formal inquiry into the incident.
Despite the investigation, government officials did not immediately respond to News Of Los Angeles‘s requests for further information. The inquiry has so far focused on the building’s electrical wiring, the presence of flammable materials, and the adequacy of fire safety measures.
Community Response and Calls for Change
The tragedy has spurred protests and calls for reform. As family members grieve their dead or wait for news of the missing, they are also demanding changes in building codes and emergency response protocols. The New York Times reported that business owners and urban planners have accused authorities of a history of mismanagement of Karachi.
Mujtaba Ali, a local shopkeeper, told the Times that if the fire engines had arrived on time, with proper ladders, the blaze could have been contained. “They were calling us from inside, saying the stairways were locked. What chance did they have?” he said.
The incident has highlighted the urgent need for better fire safety infrastructure in Pakistan’s densely populated markets. Authorities are under pressure to review and enforce stricter building codes, improve emergency response times, and ensure that fire exits are functional and accessible.
Key Takeaways
- 50 people have died in a 24-hour blaze at Karachi’s Gul Plaza.
- 84 remain missing, with search efforts ongoing.
- A short circuit is suspected as the cause.
- The incident underscores critical gaps in fire safety and emergency response.
- Authorities face mounting pressure to overhaul building regulations and improve preparedness.
The disaster at Gul Plaza serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent fire safety measures and swift emergency response in crowded commercial environments.
