Several missing as death toll in Karachi mall fire climbs to 21

The death toll from a devastating fire at a major shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, rose to 21 on Monday, as rescue teams continued searching for dozens of people feared trapped beneath the rubble, officials said.

The blaze tore through Gul Plaza, a multi-story commercial complex on Karachi’s busy MA Jinnah Road, late Saturday night. Firefighters battled the inferno for more than 24 hours before it was finally brought under control on Sunday.

Smoke rises as firefighters spray water to extinguish a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Centre building, in Karachi, Pakistan, January 18, 2026. Reuters

Rescue workers recovered eight additional bodies overnight and early Monday, police and hospital officials told Dawn, raising the confirmed death toll to 21.

“The firefighting operation has been completed, and the cooling process is now underway,” Sindh Deputy Inspector General of Police Syed Asad Raza said, adding that municipal authorities were carrying out debris removal with support from the Pakistan Navy.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, told reporters that as many as 70 people were still missing. The provincial government has set up emergency helplines for families seeking information about loved ones.

Authorities initially suspect an electrical short circuit caused the fire, though the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

Dozens still missing

According to earlier reporting by The Express Tribune, at least 59 people, including women who were inside the market when the fire erupted, were initially reported missing as the scale of the disaster became clear.

The fire began around 10:15 p.m. Saturday and quickly escalated into a third-degree blaze, engulfing the ground floor and three upper levels of the building. Heavy smoke, structural damage, and repeated flare-ups hampered firefighting efforts, officials said.

An estimated 40 percent of the market was destroyed, including roughly 1,200 shops and storage units. Merchandise worth millions of dollars was reduced to ashes, dealing a severe blow to traders.

Rescue operations were further marred by tragedy when a firefighter with the Karachi Municipal Corporation, identified as Furqan Ali, was killed after being crushed by falling debris during operations on Sunday morning. His death brought widespread tributes from political leaders.

More than 30 people were treated for injuries or smoke inhalation, officials said.

Police and paramilitary Rangers cordoned off the area to prevent unauthorized access, while distraught families gathered nearby, awaiting news of missing relatives.

Compensation for victims announced

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced PKR 10 million in compensation for each family of those killed in the Gul Plaza fire and said the destroyed building would be rebuilt.

Speaking at a news conference in Karachi on Monday, Shah described the blaze as a “major incident” and said the scale of structural damage could require the entire building to be demolished.

He said firefighters and rescue teams were trying to enter the building from three directions, but lingering hotspots meant the fire had not yet been fully extinguished.

Shah said the compensation would begin to be distributed from Tuesday.

He added that authorities would focus on identifying failures and preventing similar disasters. An official inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of the Karachi commissioner, Shah said, adding that while no individual is being singled out, action will be taken if evidence of negligence or sabotage emerges.

Leaders express condolences

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate statements expressing grief over the loss of life and praising the bravery of emergency responders.

Both leaders spoke by phone with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, urging the full deployment of resources for rescue and relief efforts and calling for better enforcement of fire safety regulations to prevent similar disasters.

The prime minister also directed federal agencies to assist provincial authorities, emphasizing the need for coordinated emergency response systems in densely populated urban centers.