26 people dead, 81 still missing in Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire

KARACHI: At least 26 people have been confirmed dead and up to 81 others are reported missing after a massive fire tore through Gul Plaza on Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road in Pakistan, leaving the multi-storey commercial building structurally unstable and unsafe for general access, ARY News reported.

Authorities said the blaze, which broke out around 10 pm on January 17, was brought under control after nearly 34 hours. However, rescue and recovery operations are still under way amid fears of further collapse. Search teams, supported by the Army, Rangers and civil administration, are carrying out a cautious operation while engineers assess the damaged structure.

DIG South confirmed that 26 bodies have so far been recovered from the site. Six victims have been identified, while the remaining bodies will be identified through DNA testing. According to police, 69 people were initially reported missing, with the last known location of 32 traced to Gul Plaza. However, the missing persons desk set up at the Deputy Commissioner’s office later revised the figure to 81 missing individuals, based on complaints registered by families, ARY News reported.

Stop calling it a tragedy; call it a failure. The Gul Plaza fire is the price Karachi pays for a culture of ‘chalta hai’ (it’s okay). When safety is optional, our citizens’ lives become expendable. How many more livelihoods must burn before we demand reform?#GulPlazaFire pic.twitter.com/4pAoeZdfAQ

— Sadia Mumtaz (@SadiaMu30693354) January 18, 2026

DNA sample collection has begun, with relatives of 18 victims already submitting samples to assist authorities in the identification process. Officials said the situation in and around Gul Plaza and the adjacent Rampa Plaza is under control, with all entry points sealed. Only authorised rescue personnel are being allowed inside the building.

Rescue teams continue to enter the fire-ravaged structure through rear access points, while heavy machinery is being used to clear debris and create safer pathways for search operations. Authorities have urged families of missing persons to remain in contact with the DC office helpline for updates, ARY News reported.

Survivors have shared harrowing accounts, raising serious concerns over safety lapses. One survivor, Zubair, said that although Gul Plaza has 26 gates, 24 were locked after 10 p.m., leaving only two exit routes. “Darkness and thick smoke made it impossible to escape,” he said, adding that more than 20 people were inside his shop at the time.

Another shopkeeper said he entered the building to rescue trapped people, pulling several out unconscious. He claimed there were no emergency exits and that locked gates turned the building into a “death trap.”

Officials revealed that Gul Plaza was originally constructed in 1980, with an additional floor added in 1998 after an 18-year gap. Over time, the roof was converted into a parking area and shops were illegally built in the original parking space. Although the added floor was later regularised, and a completion certificate issued in April 2003, questions have been raised about compliance with safety regulations, ARY News reported.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government has announced Rs 10 million in financial assistance for the families of those who lost their lives. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said compensation would begin to be disbursed from Tuesday, describing the incident as a major tragedy and confirming that rescue teams were attempting access from multiple points. (ANI)