The death toll in the tragic incident at Gul Plaza, located on MA Jinnah Road in Karachi, has risen to 26, while authorities have confirmed that 75 people remain missing, intensifying concerns among affected families.
The fire that broke out late Saturday night has finally been brought under control; however, debris removal and the recovery of bodies are still underway. According to officials, the initial list of missing persons had reached 83, but after verification, 75 individuals have been confirmed as missing.
Rescue officials stated that teams were able to enter the Gul Plaza building after nearly 40 hours. The search operation on the first floor has been completed, and efforts are now focused on locating living or deceased individuals on the second floor.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Javed said that a total of 20 bodies have been recovered so far, of which 18 have been identified. He added that rescue and search operations are ongoing, while approximately 40 percent of the building has collapsed due to the fire.
He said experts from the Sindh Building Control Authority, after inspection, reported that other sections of the building have also become extremely weak, posing further risks. He urged traders and the public to cooperate with authorities and stay away from the red zone to avoid hindering rescue efforts.
According to the deputy commissioner, some names appeared twice on the initial missing persons list of 83, and after verification, 75 individuals were confirmed missing. He further stated that the last known locations of 39 people have been traced to within Gul Plaza.
