Gul Plaza Karachi Fire Ends After 33 Hours, 15 Dead as Authorities Start DNA Identification

The Gul Plaza fire in Karachi has been fully extinguished after burning for more than 33 hours. Rescue teams continue search operations inside the collapsed shopping mall as the death toll rises to up to 15. Authorities confirm recovery of bodies and body parts amid dozens still missing.

Firefighters finally silenced the flames at the Gul Plaza shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road early Monday morning. The cooling process continues under the shadow of a structural collapse. Rescuers now navigate a “death trap” of unstable concrete and ash to find dozens of missing citizens.

Casualty Updates: Death Toll Rises to 15

The Gul Plaza fire death toll reached 15 today as search teams penetrated deeper into the rubble. Among the dead is a brave firefighter who lost his life during the initial surge. Doctors at Civil Hospital Karachi have treated over 26 people for severe burns and smoke inhalation. Authorities fear these numbers will climb as they clear the ground floor and mezzanine.

The Gul Plaza fire casualties keep changing as rescue teams reach deeper sections.

• Deaths: Between 11 and 15 confirmed fatalities, including at least one firefighter
• Injured: Over 20 to 26 people, treated mostly at Civil Hospital Karachi
• Missing: Around 50 to 70 people still unaccounted for

Families wait outside the site and hospitals. Some received last calls from loved ones trapped inside.

The search operation turned grim this morning. Teams recovered mortal remains and fragmented body parts from the collapsed rear section of the plaza. The intense heat from burning plastics and textiles made identification impossible for some victims. Officials are now preparing for DNA testing to help the 70 families still searching for their loved ones.

Millions Lost in Karachi Commercial Hub

Traders estimate a staggering $25 million financial loss as 1,200 shops turned to ash. The Karachi business community is in mourning, facing the total destruction of livelihoods. This disaster highlights a fatal lack of fire exits and safety audits in the city’s oldest commercial centers.