The death toll from the devastating fire that broke out in a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, has risen to at least 55, according to a Karachi government official. The fire erupted on the night of January 17, 2026, at Gul Plaza, a three-storey commercial complex in the city’s South district.
Javed Nabi Khoso, the deputy commissioner of Karachi’s south district, confirmed that “a total of 55 bodies have been recovered since Saturday night,” with rescuers continuing to sift through the wreckage in search of further remains.
The tragedy has left many families in anguish, with over 50 families providing DNA samples in hopes of identifying the bodies of their loved ones. Provincial health official Summaiya Syed mentioned that the remains would be returned to families once the DNA matching process is completed.
The tragic event has sparked widespread criticism from relatives of those still missing, as the slow pace of the recovery operation has left many waiting for closure.
Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were inside the mall at the time of the blaze, expressed the heartbreaking desire to see the remains of his loved ones. “We want the bodies to be recovered and handed over to their rightful families,” he told AFP. “At least let us see them one last time, in whatever condition they are, so that we may say our final goodbye.”
Although fires are common in Karachi’s markets and factories, the scale of this blaze is rare. Gul Plaza, which was home to a range of shops and businesses, was significantly damaged in the inferno. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, although the exact trigger remains unclear.
The incident has brought to light the ongoing challenges related to the poor infrastructure and safety standards in many commercial buildings across Karachi, which have been prone to such tragedies.
