Ten dead in Karachi fire

KARACHI: As many as 10 people died and eight others were in serious condition after a heavy fire swept through a shopping mall in Karachi, 

The blaze suddenly broke out on second floor of the building but very soon it spread to fourth, fifth and sixth floors of multi-storey RJ Mall, a shopping centre located on Rashid Minhas Road.

According to fire brigade authorities, a faulty generator placed on the roof of the shopping centre was the cause of the fire.

Seven to eight vehicles and snorkels were used to put out the fire, according to fire brigade officials.

Thirty to37 rescue employees are carrying out rescue and relief operation, according to Fire and Rescue Commander Humayun Khan.

Fire brigade officials say that the fire has spread from the sixth floor to the fourth floor, and dozens of shops have been burnt due to the fire.

 According to fire department officials, because of the intensity of the fire and the falling glass, there is also a fear that people are trapped inside the building that also houses several offices.

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Commander Humayun Khan revealed that the fire’s epicenter is the fourth floor of the building, where an intense inferno has generated a significant amount of smoke, complicating the already challenging rescue efforts.

Despite the tireless endeavors, the fire has yet to be completely contained, with ongoing struggles in various sections of the building. In a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos, two individuals were successfully rescued using a snare from the rear portion of the building.

To curb the fire’s relentless advance, the electricity supply to the shopping mall and surrounding buildings has been severed.

More than 50 people were rescued from the burning building but a number of people were still trapped inside, said rescue officials. The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where condition of eight them was said to be serious.

Emergency measures have been activated in hospitals across the city, preparing for potential casualties and injuries.

The rescue officials later said the fire was brought under control to a great extent and the cooling process was underway on one of the floors.