Karachi Gul Plaza rescue enters fourth day; 28 dead, 11 identified, 85 still missing

KARACHI: The death toll in the Gul Plaza disaster has risen to 28, with 11 victims identified, officials said on Wednesday. At least 35 people have been injured, while 85 remain missing, according to DC South.

Rescue operations continued late into the night and are now 70 per cent complete, Mayor Karachi confirmed. Fire officials said search work has been completed in the front portion of the plaza, including the first, second and third sections.

Search operations are set to begin today on the second and third floors of the section adjacent to Rampa Plaza, Fire Officer Zafar said. Authorities also removed heavy, unnecessary items from the rooftop overnight to reduce structural load, a move officials say will ease and speed up rescue efforts.

Debris clearance and search operations are ongoing amid concerns over the building’s structural stability.

Rescue teams finally entered the building 40 hours after the fire broke out to search for missing persons. Operations on the first floor have been completed, while the search continues on the second floor. Fire flared up again during the operation but was brought under control by fire brigade vehicles. Teams are using torches to navigate the darkness, and human remains are being recovered continuously.

According to Rescue 1122 Chief Operating Officer Dr Abid Jalaluddin Sheikh, three simultaneous search operations are under way at five designated points. Heavy machinery is being used to clear debris, while fire-fighting and cooling operations continue to maintain a safe environment, he said.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Ahmed said that the main fire has been extinguished, with cooling efforts ongoing. He warned that debris clearance may take 15–17 days due to the building’s unstable structure.

CASUALTIES, INJURIES AND MISSING PERSONS

Officials said that 85 people still remain missing. DI South Asad Raza said initial reports listed 59 missing; authorities obtained mobile contacts for all. Thirty injured individuals, including two firefighters, are receiving treatment at city hospitals.

Among those deceased, the ones that have been identified are Kashif, Faraz, Muhammad Amir, and Farqan, while injured include Haseeb, Wasim, Daniyal, Sadiq, Hamza, Rahim, Fahad, Jawad, Iyan, Abdullah, Usman, Zain, Nadir, and others.

Relatives of the missing persons can submit identification details at Civil Hospital Karachi. Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq explains the process here:

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