Rimpa Plaza declared unsafe after Gul Plaza fire

WEB DESK: The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) has declared Rimpa Plaza unsafe in the aftermath of the deadly fire at neighbouring Gul Plaza, saying falling debris from the gutted structure has damaged key structural components of the high-rise.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, the provincial regulator said rubble from Gul Plaza struck the ramp area of Rimpa Plaza during rescue operations, weakening several supporting columns. The authority added that the affected portion of the building now poses a serious risk to life and property. Notices have been served to the plaza’s management and shop owners.

The move comes as the death toll from the Gul Plaza blaze climbed to 28, with authorities confirming that at least 81 people are still missing. Rescue teams continue to sift through the charred remains of the shopping centre, which was destroyed in what officials have described as Karachi’s worst commercial fire in more than a decade.

Use of damaged section halted

According to the SBCA, an inspection found parts of Rimpa Plaza to be structurally hazardous. The authority directed the management to immediately stop using the damaged areas and ensure that all unsafe elements are removed.

Repair and strengthening work, the notice said, must be carried out strictly under the supervision of a qualified structural engineer and in line with existing building laws. The SBCA stressed that no portion of the affected structure may be occupied until it is formally certified as safe.

The authority warned that failure to comply with these directives would invite action under the Sindh Building Control Ordinance, 1979, without further notice.

Search operation enters critical phase

Rescue and relief efforts at Gul Plaza remain underway as teams push deeper into the collapsed sections of the building. Deputy Commissioner South Javed Khoso, who visited the site to review operations, said all recovered belongings of victims were being kept in official custody.

He also disclosed that two dumpers carrying debris went missing a day earlier, adding that efforts were underway to trace them.

Fire Officer Zafar Khan said search teams had cleared the open portion of the plaza’s basement and found no bodies there. However, he added that operations were still ongoing in the collapsed section of the basement, while the second and third floors had already been searched.

Mayor says majority of building cleared

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab visited the site late Tuesday night and said nearly two-thirds of Gul Plaza had been cleared. Speaking to reporters, he said no additional bodies had been recovered so far and estimated that around 70 per cent of the rescue work had been completed.

He noted that teams were cautiously drilling and removing debris from collapsed areas, leaving open the possibility of further recoveries. Wahab confirmed that reports of 81 missing persons had been received and said the final number of confirmed fatalities would be announced once the identification process was complete.

Earlier, police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said 28 bodies had been brought to Civil Hospital, while DNA samples from 50 families had been collected for profiling. Rescue officials said three bodies at the Edhi morgue were identified on Tuesday, taking the number of identified victims to 11.

Citywide fire safety audits launched

The mayor also announced that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had begun fire safety audits of buildings across the city. He said the administration had formally approached the Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan (Abad) regarding projects that failed to meet fire safety regulations.

Sharing a copy of the correspondence on social media, Wahab urged Abad members to rectify shortcomings highlighted in audit reports within three days, warning that enforcement action would follow in case of non-compliance.