At least six people, including a firefighter, were killed after a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza, a large shopping mall on MA Jinnah Road in Pakistan’s Karachi, officials confirmed on Sunday. Several others are feared trapped, even as rescue operations continued more than 12 hours after the blaze erupted.

Fire breaks out late night

Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho said the fire began around 10.45 pm on Saturday. The blaze quickly spread through the multi-storey complex, creating dense smoke and severely hampering evacuation efforts.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan said six casualties have been confirmed so far, while around 20 people rescued from the building were shifted to hospitals.

Complex structure hinders rescue

Firefighters were still battling the flames nearly 16 hours later. Officials said the mall’s complex layout — including a basement and mezzanine floor packed with hundreds of shops — made rescue operations extremely difficult. Around 40 snorkels were deployed, and nearly 60 per cent of the fire had been brought under control.

Preliminary assessment by police suggested a short circuit could be the cause, though investigations are ongoing. Cracks have appeared in the building’s walls due to the intensity of the blaze, raising further safety concerns.

Fears of more people trapped

District South Deputy Commissioner DC Khoso told local media that there were fears people might still be stuck on the first and mezzanine floors, areas rescuers have been unable to access so far due to smoke and structural damage.

Gul Plaza, built in the early 1980s, spans nearly 1.75 acres and is a popular shopping destination known for affordable household goods, clothing and electronics. Local media reported that parts of the building had collapsed, with the ground and mezzanine floors completely gutted by fire.

Leaders express grief

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident, directing Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi to submit a detailed report. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and urged steps to prevent such tragedies.

Rescue operations and cooling work continued, as authorities warned the death toll could rise.