A devastating fire has ripped through a multi-storey shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan, claiming at least three lives and injuring around a dozen others, according to local officials.
Blaze Erupts in Busy Shopping District
The fire broke out at the Gul Plaza in the southern port city shortly after 10pm local time on Saturday. Emergency services, including firefighters and rescue workers, rushed to the scene to tackle the rapidly spreading flames.
Local media reports indicate that most shop owners were either closing their stores or had already left for the day when the fire ignited. This timing may have prevented a far greater loss of life.
Flammable Goods Fuel Rapid Inferno
Authorities have revealed that the fire spread with alarming speed after it erupted in a section of the centre where shopkeepers stored large quantities of imported garments, clothing, and plastic household goods. These highly flammable materials acted as a potent accelerant for the blaze.
Television footage from the scene showed firefighters clad in protective gear battling the intense flames. An Associated Press reporter at the location noted that thick black smoke billowed into the night sky, visible from several streets away.
A Recurring Tragedy in Karachi
The cause of the latest fire remains under investigation. However, it has once again highlighted a critical and widespread issue: most buildings in Karachi, and across Pakistan, lack adequate fire prevention and firefighting systems.
Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, has witnessed similar tragedies with grim regularity. In a stark reminder of the persistent danger, a fire at a different city shopping centre in November 2023 killed 10 people and injured 22 others.
This latest incident underscores the urgent need for improved safety regulations and enforcement in commercial buildings across the country to prevent such catastrophic losses in the future.
