Karachi Mall Fire: 65 Missing, 6 Dead in Inferno

Firefighters in Karachi continue their search for more than 65 missing individuals after a catastrophic fire engulfed the Gul Plaza shopping center on Saturday night. The blaze, which raged for over 24 hours, resulted in six fatalities and 20 injuries. Efforts to contain the fire were challenged by the mall's design, which offered poor ventilation, allowing smoke to rapidly fill the multi-storey structure and impede rescue operations.

The fire is believed to have originated from a circuit breaker, according to initial reports from Sindh police. The nature of the goods sold within the mall, including carpets and resin-based items, likely contributed to the fire's intensity and prolonged smoldering. By Sunday evening, the once-bustling shopping center was reduced to a charred skeleton, with debris scattered across the street, and concerns grew about the building's structural integrity as parts began to collapse.