A fire at a shopping centre in the Pakistan city of Karachi has resulted in the tragic deaths of six individuals as firefighters continue to battle the blaze.
Parts of the Gul Plaza, which houses 1,200 stores and spans an area of 8,000 square meters (86,111 square feet), have collapsed, hampering rescue efforts. Among the dead is one firefighter, with more than 20 people injured and fears that some may still be trapped inside the multi-storey mall.
Local emergency services reported that upon arrival at the scene, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames.
As smoke continues to billow from what remains of the building, Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Karachi, noted that the shopping centre contained highly flammable materials such as plastic foam, cloth, carpets, and perfume.
Currently, 20 fire engines are deployed to combat the blaze, but there are concerns over further structural collapse of the mall.
Summaiya Syed, Karachi's police surgeon, reported that six bodies had been transferred to the city's Civil Hospital along with some of the injured. She also stated that police are invoking mass disaster protocols.
Reacting to the incident, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolences and has urged the Sindh provincial government to conduct a thorough review of safety measures in commercial and residential buildings throughout the area.
