2026 Gul Plaza Shopping Mall fire

2026 Gul Plaza shopping mall fire
Back side of Gul Plaza after the fire
Date17–21 January 2026 (2026-01-17 – 2026-01-21)
Time~21:50 (PKT)
Duration36 hours
LocationGul Plaza, MA Jinnah Road, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates24°51′54″N 67°01′27″E / 24.8651°N 67.0241°E / 24.8651; 67.0241
TypeThird-degree blaze
CauseChildren playing with lighters or matches in artificial flower shop[1]
Deaths80
Non-fatal injuries20+
Missing49[2]

On the night of 17 January 2026 at 22:15 PKT, a major fire broke out at the Gul Plaza shopping centre on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan.[3][4] The blaze spread rapidly through the multistory commercial building, resulting in 80 deaths, numerous injuries and extensive damage.

Background

Gul Plaza was a multi-storey shopping complex located on Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road in Karachi's Saddar area, which housed approximately 1,200 shops selling garments, electronics, cosmetics and household goods spread across three storeys, a mezzanine, and the basement.[5][6][7] The complex was situated on an area of over 6,500 m2 (70,000 sq ft).[8] According to the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), the building was originally constructed in 1979, had a revised plan approved in 1998, and was "duly regularised" under the 2001 Regularisation Amendment Ordinance in 2003. In 2005, a revised No Objection Certificate for sale and advertisement was issued, approved for 1,102 shops spread across the basement, ground, first, second, and third floors.[9][10]

Thirteen of Gul Plaza's 16 exits were locked, as it was near closing time.[6] There were no emergency exits, smoke alarms, fire hoses, fire extinguishers, or fire sprinkler systems in the building.[11][12] A Sub-Fire Officer commented, "If they had a fire extinguisher in the first shop where the fire initially erupted, they could have put it out there and then."[12]

Fire

Authorities at the site after the fire

The fire started at around 22:15 PKT on the ground floor of the building and quickly spread to the upper levels due to the presence of flammable materials and limited ventilation.[13][14] The fire started in a shop selling artificial flowers and pots.[15] According to Dawn, the shop owner told investigators that his two sons, both minors, were playing in his shop while he was away, and they threw a lit match into the shop without putting it out before leaving. The shop housed combustible material which caught fire.[16] This was confirmed by the investigative committee.[17] The fire spread rapidly through air-conditioning duct to the rest of the building.[17][18]

According to a Gul Plaza shopkeeper, "The building had caught fire about ten times before, so we initially thought this was normal."[19] A grille installed over the rooftop exit obstructed an escape route.[1]

The first call to emergency services was placed at 22:26, and two fire vehicles were dispatched to the location. They classified it as a Grade 3 fire – "the highest category for an urban area", according to a provincial spokesman – and a city-wide emergency was declared by 22:45.[20] According to Dawn, the authorities responded slowly and with only "limited resources" to extinguish the fire. As a result, the blaze is said to have burned "uncontrolled for hours".[21] Responders cut through windows and destroyed walls using hammers to get inside.[15]

Firefighters from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Rescue 1122 battled the blaze for several hours. Multiple sections of the building collapsed during firefighting operations.[22] The Pakistan Navy sent a fire brigade.[10] After nearly 36 hours of continuous efforts, the fire was finally brought under control on 19 January.[23]

Casualties

At least 80 people were confirmed dead,[24] including a firefighter, 36-year-old Furqan Ali, who was killed in a structural collapse that also injured another firefighter.[25] He was based in Nazimabad Fire Station and started working for the KMC Fire Department in 2018.[12] More than 20 people were injured,[26] while 49 were reported missing during rescue operations.[2] In several cases, only body parts were recovered, while DNA testing had to be conducted to identify some victims.[27]

On 21 January, 30 bodies were retrieved from a crockery shop on the mezzanine floor. The victims were suffocated after locking themselves in the shop awaiting rescue.[28][29][30] According to Dawn, the shop had announced a sale for the wedding season, leading to a large number of people in the shop. Furthermore, the shop had decided to close at 02:00 instead of the usual 22:00 due to the sale.[29]

Response

The Sindh government called the fire a "national tragedy".[21] It announced compensation of 10 million rupees (US$35,000) for the families of the deceased,[4][31] ordered an inquiry into the incident and established a helpline for families of missing persons. Hospitals across the city were placed on emergency alert.[32]

The police registered a first information report on 24 January, in which they called the fire an "outcome of negligence and carelessness".[33]

Aftermath

The complex was heavily damaged and partially collapsed.[21] The neighbouring Rimpa Plaza was declared unsafe by the SBCA after it was damaged by debris from Gul Plaza.[34]

The fire caused extensive economic losses to shop owners and renewed debate over fire safety compliance in Karachi's commercial buildings.[35][10] According to the Press Trust of India, a senior official of the Gul Plaza's shop owners association estimated economic losses of at least 3 billion rupees.[36] According to Arab News, the losses were exacerbated by the upcoming Ramadan and wedding seasons – which is typically the apex of sales for traders in Gul Plaza – so they had much more merchandise in stock usual.[37]

The search for people was hampered by the risk of further collapse of the buildings.[21] On 22 January, people gathered outside the plaza and staged a protest, criticising the slow pace of the search operation.[16] AI-generated images claiming to depict the fire spread on social media.[38]

The search operation concluded on 27 January and the building was sealed.[39]

Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah stated that shops will be built on the site within two years, and the rest of the building will be demolished.[40]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Mushtaq, Kashif (22 January 2026). "Gul Plaza blaze traced to 'shop mishap' as probe rules out short circuit". Geo News. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b "Search halted at Gul Plaza as 73 dead, 49 still missing". Aaj News. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Deadly Pakistan shopping plaza fire fuelled by clothes and homewares". ABC News. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b Davies, Caroline; Jordan, Dearbail (19 January 2026). "At least 21 dead, dozens missing in massive Pakistan mall fire". BBC News. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Five killed as part of Gul Plaza collapses after blaze". Geo News. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  6. ^ a b Sohail, Riaz; Khan, Zubair; Kamran, Qaisar (21 January 2026). "Gul Plaza: Survivors tell of Pakistan mall fire horror". BBC News. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  7. ^ Engineer, Anushe (21 January 2026). "Civil society comes together to support affectees of Gul Plaza fire". Dawn. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  8. ^ Davies, Caroline (23 January 2026). "Pakistan mall fire death toll jumps to 67". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  9. ^ Jadoon, Saleem (21 January 2026). "Toll rises to 28 as probe begins into Gul Plaza fire amide MNAs demand for sweeping safety, accountability steps". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b c Ali, Imtiaz (20 January 2026). "Death toll of fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza reaches 28". Dawn. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Death toll rises to 26 in Karachi's Gul Plaza fire; 81 still missing". Mathrubhumi. Asian News International. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  12. ^ a b c Hasan, Shazia (21 January 2026). "Firefighters left to face the flames and the blame". Dawn. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza kills several, injures dozens". The Express Tribune. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Firefighter among six killed, more than 30 injured in Karachi's Gul plaza fire". Dunya News. 18 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b Mushtaq, Kashif; Ali, Qamar (19 January 2026). "Gul Plaza blaze death toll climbs to 26, child among dead". Geo News. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  16. ^ a b Ali, Imtiaz (23 January 2026). "Gul Plaza fire death toll rises to 67 as search continues for sixth day". Dawn. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Gul Plaza fire sparked by child, inquiry report finds". Pakistan Today. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  18. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (23 January 2026). "Death toll from Karachi's Gul Plaza inferno reaches 71; search operation in 'final stages'". Dawn. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  19. ^ "Eyewitness recalls escape as Gul Plaza fire toll hits 71". The Nation. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  20. ^ Shahid, Ariba (24 January 2026). "Karachi mall inferno came after ignored warnings, delayed response". Reuters. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  21. ^ a b c d "Zeker 11 doden bij brand in winkelcentrum Pakistan, tientallen vermisten" [11 confirmed dead in fire in Pakistan shopping centre, tens missing]. NOS (in Dutch). 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Blaze rages for hours at Karachi's Gul Plaza". Aaj News. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Karachi Gul Plaza fire doused after 36 Hours; 54 Still Missing as rescuers race against time". Daily Pakistan. 19 January 2026. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Judicial commission set up to investigate Gul Plaza deadly fire". Geo News. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Recovery of 5 more bodies from Karachi shopping plaza brings fire death toll to 28". AP News. 21 January 2026. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  26. ^ Ahmed, A. (19 January 2026). "Pakistan: Gul Plaza fire death toll rises to 14, over 60 feared missing". Gulf News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Hopes fade in fourth day of search for dozens missing in Karachi shopping plaza fire". The Independent. 20 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  28. ^ "Karachi's Gul Plaza fire: Death toll jumps to 61 after 30 bodies found in single shop". Dunya News. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  29. ^ a b Ali, Imtiaz (21 January 2026). "30 bodies recovered from single shop following deadly fire at Karachi's Gul Plaza". Dawn. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  30. ^ "Karachi mall fire: 30 bodies recovered from gutted shop, death toll tops 60". Hindustan Times. Asian News International. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  31. ^ Hussain, Abid (21 January 2026). "Gul Plaza fire: How a deadly inferno exposed Karachi's safety failures". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  32. ^ "Gul Plaza blaze death toll rises as building collapses". The News International. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  33. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (24 January 2026). "'Outcome of negligence and carelessness': Karachi police register FIR of Gul Plaza inferno". Dawn. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  34. ^ "SBCA declares Rimpa Plaza 'unsafe' after devastating Gul Plaza fire". Islamabad Post. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  35. ^ "At least six killed in Pakistan as fire rips through Karachi shopping mall". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  36. ^ "Karachi shopping plaza fire death toll reaches 28, another 80 missing". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 20 January 2026. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  37. ^ Dilawar, Ismail (23 January 2026). "Women traders face ruin as years of work turn to ash in deadly plaza inferno". Arab News. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  38. ^ Khernamnuoy, Pasika (28 January 2026). "Images depicting deadly Pakistan mall fire are AI-generated". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  39. ^ Ahmed, Saad (27 January 2026). "Gul Plaza search operation ends, authorities seal scorched building". Geo News. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  40. ^ Saadat, Suleman (28 January 2026). "Gul Plaza blaze took 79 lives, most in mezzanine floor: report". Geo News. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
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