Karachi fire death toll rises to 21; search continues for missing persons
Pakistani authorities and rescue services announced on Monday that the death toll from the massive fire that engulfed a shopping mall in the southern city of Karachi had risen to 21, in a tragedy that further highlights the challenges of public safety in Pakistan's economic capital. Official reports indicate that rescue teams are still racing against time to find nearly 60 people who remain missing under the rubble and in damaged floors.
Details of the incident and containment efforts
A fire broke out Saturday evening at the Ghoul Plaza shopping center, a three-story building housing approximately 1,200 shops, making it a popular destination for shoppers and merchants. Hassan Khan, the head of the rescue operations, confirmed to AFP that 21 bodies had been recovered so far, adding that search and rescue operations were continuing meticulously and cautiously. Khan explained that among the victims was a 25-year-old firefighter who lost his life while attempting to rescue those trapped inside. He also stated that 30 injured people were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Infrastructure crisis and recurring fires
This disaster comes amid a broader pattern of similar incidents in Karachi, a city of over 20 million people. The city faces significant challenges with its dilapidated infrastructure, and fires are commonplace due to the lack of, or inadequate enforcement of, safety standards in commercial and residential buildings. Older, overcrowded shopping complexes often lack sufficient emergency exits or automatic fire alarm and suppression systems, exacerbating the loss of life in the event of an electrical fault or other accident.
Residents' anger and criticism of the authorities
Anger and despair gripped the families of the victims and the missing, who gathered around the scene of the fire, desperately hoping for any information about their loved ones. Many shopkeepers and residents sharply criticized the local authorities, accusing them of a slow response in the rescue operations and of failing to provide sufficient equipment to handle a fire of this magnitude in such a short time. Police Inspector Syed Asad Raza stated that authorities had counted approximately sixty missing persons, raising concerns that the death toll could rise as the search continues.
A record full of tragic accidents
This fire brings to mind a series of industrial and commercial disasters that have struck Pakistan in recent years, often attributed to lax enforcement of building codes and occupational safety regulations. Civil society organizations and experts are calling for a comprehensive review of safety procedures in Karachi's bustling markets and major shopping centers to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies, which claim the lives of dozens of innocent people annually.
