KARACHI, Pakistan- The death toll from a devastating fire that ripped through a shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, has risen to at least 55 people, authorities confirmed on Thursday, as families of the missing accused officials of moving too slowly.
Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso said a total of 55 bodies had been recovered since the blaze broke out late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a three-storey commercial building located in the city’s busy business district.
Rescue teams are still combing through the charred remains of the structure in search of human remains, even as relatives wait anxiously outside mortuaries for news of their loved ones.
Families Turn to DNA Testing for Answers
With many bodies burned beyond recognition, authorities have begun relying on forensic identification.
Provincial health official Summaiya Syed said more than 50 families have already submitted DNA samples to help identify victims.
“We will hand over the bodies to the families once DNA samples are matched,” Syed told journalists outside the Civil Hospital Karachi mortuary.
The slow pace of recovery has sparked anger among relatives, some of whom say the prolonged process is deepening their grief.
‘Let Us Say Our Final Goodbye’
Among those waiting is Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were trapped inside the mall when the fire broke out.
“All we want is for the bodies to be recovered and handed over to their rightful families,” Ali said. “At least let us see them one last time, in whatever condition, so we may say our final goodbye.”
Deadly Fires Common in Karachi
While fires frequently occur in Karachi’s factories and markets due to poor safety standards and ageing infrastructure, authorities say a blaze of this magnitude is rare.
A government-appointed committee has launched an investigation into the cause of the inferno, though officials have yet to determine what triggered the fire.
As rescue efforts continue, the tragedy has renewed scrutiny on building safety enforcement in Pakistan’s commercial spaces.
