A severe fire broke out at a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, resulting in 6 confirmed deaths, with dozens more injured or missing.
Foreign news agencies reported that a major fire broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, in the early hours of Sunday, 18 Jan 2026. So far, 6 people have died, including one firefighter, and more than 20 others have been injured amid concerns that others may still be trapped inside.
Local rescue units stated that when the emergency teams arrived at the scene on Saturday, the flames had spread from the lower floor to the upper levels and were engulfing nearly the entire building. This caused parts of the mall's structure to collapse, hindering rescue efforts.
Gul Plaza contains over 1,200 shops and covers more than 8,000 square meters. Authorities spent several hours containing the blaze. Hassan Khan, spokesperson for Karachi's 1122 rescue service, told the BBC that the mall contained large amounts of flammable materials such as plastic foam, fabrics, carpets, and perfumes.
Meanwhile, local Karachi authorities have set up a registration center to record the names and details of those still missing. Initially, over 30 people have been reported missing.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his condolences regarding the incident and ordered the local government of Sindh province, where Karachi is located, to conduct thorough safety inspections of commercial and residential buildings across the area.
/international-newshttps://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc