Dozens Missing After Massive Karachi Mall Fire, 21 Killed

Key Points

• A massive fire broke out late on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Gul Plaza, a sprawling shopping mall in Karachi’s historic centre housing 1,200 shops across a multi-storey complex larger than a football field.
• The blaze, the city’s biggest in over a decade, raged for more than 24 hours before being mostly extinguished on Monday, January 19, 2026.
• At least 21 people died, including a child, with firefighters pulling bodies from the smouldering remains.
• More than 60 people remain missing as of Monday, with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah confirming 65 still unaccounted for and 22 injured individuals discharged from hospital.
• Rescue operations involved cooling the structure, clearing twisted metal, debris, fallen air-conditioning units, and shop signboards; most of the building crumbled, with cranes demolishing the rest due to collapse fears.
• Human remains were brought out in sacks for DNA testing; rescue workers endured intense heat.
• Public anger mounted over the slow rescue response, with relatives and shopowners surrounding the site.
• Qasir Khan reported his wife, daughter-in-law, and her mother missing, criticising the rescue effort: “The bodies will come out in pieces from here. No one will be able to recognise them.”
• Shopkeeper Yasmeen Bano lamented: “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone.”
• Mohammed Ameen of Edhi emergency services confirmed 21 deaths.
• Videos captured flames ripping through the building as firefighters laboured overnight.

Karachi (Cardiff Daily Times) January 20, 2026 – Pakistani firefighters began pulling bodies from the smouldering remains of Gul Plaza, Karachi’s sprawling shopping mall, where more than 60 people were still missing after a massive fire that killed at least 21.​

The inferno, which started late on Saturday in the multi-storey complex housing 1,200 shops across an area larger than a football field, marked the city’s biggest blaze in over a decade. It raged through Karachi’s historic centre for more than 24 hours before being mostly brought under control.

What Caused the Fire at Gul Plaza?

Details on the fire’s origin remain unclear as investigations continue, but the blaze’s ferocity was evident from videos showing flames ripping through the building. Firefighters laboured through the night to combat the inferno, with the structure suffering extensive damage. By Monday afternoon, most of the building had crumbled, prompting cranes to demolish the remaining parts amid fears of further collapse. Debris strewn across the street included twisted metal, fallen air-conditioning units, and shop signboards, complicating rescue efforts.

As reported by Reuters staff in Karachi, rescue teams focused on cooling the structure and clearing the site, a process that allowed them to access the rubble where bodies were recovered. The operation’s intensity was such that workers stopped regularly to drink water after enduring heat from the debris.

How Many People Died and Are Missing?

Mohammed Ameen, who was running operations at the site for the Edhi emergency services non-profit, confirmed that 21 people had died in the fire, including a child. Rescue workers brought human remains out in sacks before sending them for DNA testing, underscoring the blaze’s devastating impact.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told reporters that 65 people were still missing, while 22 others injured by the flames had been discharged from hospital. Hundreds of people, including relatives and shopowners, surrounded the building as teams searched for survivors. The death toll and missing figures highlight the scale of the tragedy in one of Pakistan’s busiest commercial hubs.

Who Are the Victims and What Do Families Say?

Qasir Khan, a grieving relative, said his wife, daughter-in-law, and her mother had gone to the mall on Saturday evening and were among those still missing. “The bodies will come out in pieces from here. No one will be able to recognise them,” Khan said, blaming the rescue effort for not being swift enough. “They could have saved a lot of people,” he added, voicing frustration shared by many at the scene.

Shopkeeper Yasmeen Bano expressed devastation over her losses. “We’ve been left high and dry, reduced to zero; 20 years of hard work, all gone,” she said, capturing the plight of hundreds whose life’s work was reduced to ash overnight. These personal accounts, reported directly from the site by Reuters, illustrate the human cost beyond the numbers.

Why Is There Anger Over the Rescue Efforts?

Public anger has surged over the perceived delays in the response, with crowds gathering around the site demanding faster action. Khan’s criticism that rescuers “could have saved a lot of people” echoes sentiments from shopowners and families watching operations unfold. The 24-hour duration of the blaze before containment fuelled accusations of inadequate initial response, though officials have not yet addressed these claims publicly.

Rescue teams faced immense challenges, including the building’s size and the fire’s persistence, but the sight of remains in sacks and the slow pace of debris clearance intensified frustration. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s update on the missing and discharged injured came amid this tense atmosphere, as reported by Reuters on Monday.

What Is the Scale of Gul Plaza and Its Importance?

Gul Plaza stands as a landmark in Karachi’s historic centre, its multi-storey layout spanning an area larger than a football field and accommodating 1,200 shops. The complex’s density likely exacerbated the fire’s spread, trapping shoppers and workers inside. As the city’s biggest fire in over a decade, it has drawn comparisons to past tragedies, prompting questions about building safety in Pakistan’s commercial hubs.

The mall’s destruction has left hundreds affected, from vendors to visitors, wiping out livelihoods built over decades. Firefighters’ efforts to pull bodies from the remains underscore the site’s vastness and the operation’s complexity.

What Happens Next in the Rescue and Investigation?

Operations continue with DNA testing on remains to identify victims, a process critical given the state of the bodies as described by witnesses. Cranes have fully demolished unstable sections, allowing deeper searches, though hopes for survivors diminish by the hour. Authorities have not released a timeline for completion, but the focus remains on accounting for the 65 missing.

An investigation into the fire’s cause is underway, with potential implications for fire safety regulations in Sindh province. Murad Ali Shah’s office has prioritised support for the injured and families, though no compensation details have been announced. Rescue workers from Edhi services and firefighters persist despite exhaustion, as noted by Mohammed Ameen.

Broader Impact on Karachi and Sindh

The fire has reverberated across Karachi, paralysing parts of the historic centre and sparking debates on urban safety. With 21 confirmed dead and dozens missing, it ranks among recent disasters in Pakistan’s economic powerhouse. Shopowners like Yasmeen Bano face uncertain futures, while families like Qasir Khan’s await closure.

Sindh government response, led by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, includes hospital discharges for the injured, but public calls for accountability grow. The incident exposes vulnerabilities in large commercial structures, potentially leading to stricter enforcement.

This tragedy at Gul Plaza serves as a stark reminder of fire risks in densely packed urban malls. As recovery efforts press on, Karachi mourns its losses, with the full toll yet to emerge.