A massive fire engulfed a multi-storey shopping mall in Pakistan’s Karachi close to closing time, gutting shops and killing at least three people while dozens were injured, police and rescue officials said.
Police said firefighters rushed to Gul Plaza in Pakistan’s largest southern city shortly after 10 pm local time, when most shop owners were closing their stores or had already left.
But, the fire spread quickly across floors, with authorities saying it had erupted in an area of the mall where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household goods, which further fanned the flames. TV footage showed thick black smoke billowing into the night sky and flames shooting out of windows and balconies. Firefighters in protective gear battled the fire for several hours, using ladders from their fire trucks, water cannons and hoses.
While the cause of the fire was not immediately known, police said an investigation would be launched once the blaze was extinguished. However, in Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, most structures lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often results in damages and casualties.
In November 2023, a fire tore through a shopping mall in the city, killing 10 people and injuring 22 others.
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