Fifth day of Gul Plaza operation: 60 bodies recovered so far, search ongoing

KARACHI: The death toll from the devastating Gul Plaza fire climbed past 60 on Thursday as rescue teams pressed on with recovery efforts for the fifth straight day, digging through unstable debris of the burned-out commercial building in Karachi’s Saddar area.

According to Tribune, the operation remains slow and hazardous due to structural damage, lingering heat pockets and thick layers of debris inside the multi-storey plaza, which once housed more than a thousand shops. Officials fear the number of casualties could rise as search teams move deeper into collapsed sections.

A major breakthrough came earlier this week when rescuers recovered around 30 bodies from a single crockery shop on the mezzanine floor, a grim discovery that shifted the scale of the tragedy. Authorities believe many victims had rushed into the shop to escape smoke and flames when the fire erupted late Saturday night.

Rescue 1122, along with police and Rangers, continues to secure the site while heavy machinery is used selectively to avoid further collapse. Officials say manual searches are still underway in sensitive areas, slowing progress but reducing risks to rescue workers.

Identification of victims remains one of the biggest challenges. Many bodies are badly burned, making visual identification nearly impossible. As a result, DNA profiling has been launched, with samples collected from relatives of the missing. According to Tribune, dozens of families have filed missing persons reports and are waiting anxiously outside the site and nearby hospitals.

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said authorities are prioritising safety and accuracy over speed. “Every inch has to be cleared carefully,” he said, warning that recovery and identification could take more time.

The incident has once again put Karachi’s fire safety failures under the spotlight. Critics say blocked exits, overcrowded shops and poor emergency planning may have worsened the disaster. Officials have hinted at possible legal action once investigations into the cause of the blaze and building compliance are completed.

For now, the focus remains on the search. As smoke-stained rescue workers continue their painstaking work, families cling to hope, and demand answers, in what has become one of the city’s deadliest commercial building fires in recent years.

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