The death toll in Pakistan’s largest city from a mall fire has climbed to a minimum of 55 individuals, as reported by a Karachi government official to AFP on Thursday. Javed Nabi Khoso, the deputy commissioner of Karachi’s south district, stated that 55 bodies have been recovered following the outbreak of the fire on Saturday night. Concerns have been raised by relatives of the missing individuals regarding the slow pace of the rescue operation at the three-story Gul Plaza, where search teams are meticulously examining the debris for human remains.
Over 50 families have provided DNA samples, according to provincial health official Summaiya Syed, who informed reporters on Wednesday that once the DNA matches are confirmed, the bodies will be returned to the families. Fires are a frequent occurrence in Karachi’s markets and factories due to substandard infrastructure, although a fire of this magnitude is uncommon. Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were inside the mall during the incident, expressed the desire for the bodies to be recovered and reunited with their respective families. He emphasized the importance of families being able to bid a final farewell, regardless of the condition of the remains, in order to find solace and closure.
While a government committee has initiated an inquiry into the incident, the exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.