In brief
A massive fire at the Gul Plaza shopping center in Karachi has claimed at least 27 lives with over 70 reported missing. Survivors share their horrific experiences amidst locked exits and panic as they recall the desperate search for safety. Eyewitness reports highlight the chaos and the lack of adequate safety measures during the disaster, prompting public outcry for accountability and reform in emergency response and building safety in Pakistan.
Muhammed Amin is beside himself with grief and despair.
His brother, Naveed Memon, was inside Gul Plaza when a massive fire ripped through the densely-packed shopping centre in Pakistan's commercial capital, Karachi.
Like dozens of others, he still hasn't been found.
Housing an estimated 1,200 shops across a basement, mezzanine and three floors, Gul Plaza was a wholesale market that offered a wide range of products. What started the fire is still unclear, but witnesses say the speed at which it spread, coupled with locked exits and the crush of shoppers, amplified the tragedy.
Rehan Faisal, who owned a bedsheet shop, managed to escape due to the location of his store near an exit he broke down. Meanwhile, many others faced locked doors as they sought safety during the chaos.
The confirmed death toll from the fire stands at 27, with over 70 individuals still unaccounted for. Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a senior rescue official, noted that the building's unstable structure has complicated rescue efforts.
Families are gathering around the site, hoping for news of their missing loved ones. The situation has sparked outrage from the public regarding the slow emergency response and the inadequacy of safety measures in such crowded spaces. Karachi's Mayor and local officials are facing calls for accountability as investigations are promised.
