At least 11 individuals lost their lives in a fire that broke out in a multi-storey shopping mall along Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi, Pakistan, on Saturday, reported Pakistani news website Geo News. Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed 9 deaths via his X, formerly known as Twitter, account.
"KMC Fire Department has so far confirmed that there have been 9 casualties in the fire incident," he wrote, further informing about the number of bodies shifted to different hospitals in the city.
"Search process still continues," he added in the post.
According to Dawn News, a report submitted to the chief minister’s residence by District East Deputy Commissioner Altaf Sheikh stated that 22 individuals were rescued and transported to JPMC, with one person succumbing to injuries en route.
Earlier, the DC mentioned that the building had been cleared up to the fourth floor, while efforts to clear the fifth and sixth floors were underway. The structure was a commercial high-rise housing shopping centre, call centres, and software houses.
The Fire & Rescue Department spokesperson mentioned that upon receiving information about the fire at 6:30 AM, eight fire tenders, two snorkels, and two bowsers were dispatched. The statement further indicated that the fire had been contained, and the cooling process is now underway.
The fire started on the second floor and spread to the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of the shopping mall. However, Geo News reported that the cause remained unclear.
According to Dawn News, earlier this week, city planners highlighted that approximately 90 per cent of buildings in Karachi – residential, commercial, and industrial – lacked fire prevention and firefighting systems. The planners agreed that it was 'criminal negligence' on the part of regulatory bodies like the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), endangering the lives of millions in the metropolis.