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. What should I tell my mother when I go home? What should I tell my nieces? asks Amin. They are asking me why he is late to come home. How can I tell them that their father is gone?
Housing an estimated 1,200 shops across a basement, mezzanine and three floors, Gul Plaza was a wholesale market that catered to the city’s residents, particularly ahead of festivals and weddings. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but witnesses report that the speed at which it spread was exacerbated by locked exits and the density of shoppers.
Rehan Faisal, who owned a bedsheet shop, managed to escape because he broke down the door to exit his location. Time was of the essence as the fire quickly engulfed the plaza, with smoke rendering visibility impossible and panic setting in. Shoppers and store owners struggled to find safe exits, with a police official confirming that all but three of the plaza's 16 exits were locked.
The confirmed death toll stands at 27, with over 70 still missing, and the unstable structure of the building hindered rescue efforts. Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a rescue official, noted that body recognizability would require forensic examinations due to the catastrophic nature of the fire.
As individuals gather around the site searching for news of their loved ones, tensions rise. Survivor Shoaib expressed feeling incomplete without his cousin, Faizan, still trapped inside. Many families, like that of Muhammad Qaiser, remain in the dark about the fate of missing relatives, with officials providing little assistance. Additionally, calls for accountability are reverberating, with residents questioning delays in emergency response.
Amidst the continuing searches, Karachi’s Mayor faced hostility from a grieving community demanding swift action and answers regarding safety regulations and emergency preparedness. The Prime Minister has promised an investigation as the city grapples with yet another tragedy, raising concerns over specifications for building safety and emergency protocols. How many more must die? pleads Muhammed Arif, reflecting the rising desperation of those affected.
Housing an estimated 1,200 shops across a basement, mezzanine and three floors, Gul Plaza was a wholesale market that catered to the city’s residents, particularly ahead of festivals and weddings. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but witnesses report that the speed at which it spread was exacerbated by locked exits and the density of shoppers.
Rehan Faisal, who owned a bedsheet shop, managed to escape because he broke down the door to exit his location. Time was of the essence as the fire quickly engulfed the plaza, with smoke rendering visibility impossible and panic setting in. Shoppers and store owners struggled to find safe exits, with a police official confirming that all but three of the plaza's 16 exits were locked.
The confirmed death toll stands at 27, with over 70 still missing, and the unstable structure of the building hindered rescue efforts. Dr. Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, a rescue official, noted that body recognizability would require forensic examinations due to the catastrophic nature of the fire.
As individuals gather around the site searching for news of their loved ones, tensions rise. Survivor Shoaib expressed feeling incomplete without his cousin, Faizan, still trapped inside. Many families, like that of Muhammad Qaiser, remain in the dark about the fate of missing relatives, with officials providing little assistance. Additionally, calls for accountability are reverberating, with residents questioning delays in emergency response.
Amidst the continuing searches, Karachi’s Mayor faced hostility from a grieving community demanding swift action and answers regarding safety regulations and emergency preparedness. The Prime Minister has promised an investigation as the city grapples with yet another tragedy, raising concerns over specifications for building safety and emergency protocols. How many more must die? pleads Muhammed Arif, reflecting the rising desperation of those affected.
