Pakistan: At least 11 dead in Karachi mall fire

"A massive fire gutted a shopping mall over the weekend in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, leaving at least 11 people dead. On Monday, a search began for more than 60 people missing in the disaster as rescuers recovered more bodies from the building overnight. What do we know about the fire in Karachi mall? The blaze at the multi-storey Gul Plaza broke out late Saturday and burned for over 24 hours before firefighters were able to extinguish it."

"The mall houses nearly 1,200 shops. According to Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, the city's chief rescue officer, the fire rapidly swept through the shops storing cosmetics, garments and plastic items. Fire officials said the lack of ventilation in the building caused a blanket of thick smoke inside the mall, hindering efforts to reach trapped people. By late Sunday, large parts of the building had caved in, with rescue workers warning that the remaining structure could collapse further."

At least 11 people were killed and more than 60 are missing after a massive fire gutted the multi-storey Gul Plaza mall in Karachi. The blaze broke out late Saturday, burned for over 24 hours, and was extinguished only after firefighters arrived to flames already on upper floors. The mall houses about 1,200 shops, and the fire spread quickly through stores selling cosmetics, garments and plastic items. Lack of ventilation produced thick smoke that hindered rescue efforts. Large parts of the building caved in and authorities launched a probe. Traders blamed delayed response, water shortages and inadequate equipment.

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