A late-night shopping trip turned into a deadly disaster in Pakistan after a massive fire tore through a Karachi mall, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more. Officials say the blaze moved so fast that many never had a chance to escape.
The fire broke out late Saturday inside a multi-story commercial center packed with small stalls, clothing vendors, and electronics dealers. Authorities believe it started with a short circuit inside one of the ground-floor shops, a common hazard in Pakistan’s older retail buildings.
Within minutes, it became an inferno.
“When we reached the mall, the flames were already climbing to the upper floors,” a Rescue 122 spokesperson said. “The entire building was choking with smoke. People were running for their lives.”
At least 1,200 shops were destroyed. Many were family-owned businesses already struggling in a declining economy.
Witnesses told local media that they heard workers screaming for help as thick smoke poured through narrow hallways.
“It happened so fast. One moment everything was normal, and then the whole market was burning,” said Bashir Ahmed, a shopkeeper who escaped through a side door. “I’ve lost everything. My friends didn’t make it out.”
Fire crews rushed in with 22 fire engines and 33 ambulances. Several firefighters suffered injuries during rescue attempts.
By early Sunday, officials said they had contained roughly 70 percent of the blaze, but hotspots were still burning.
Karachi’s aging commercial centers have long faced criticism over lax safety standards, faulty wiring, and overcrowded stalls filled with flammable goods. The Sindh Inspector General noted that the mall’s outdated construction made the fire almost impossible to control.
“These buildings become death traps,” said a retired Karachi fire official. “One spark is all it takes.”
Authorities are now combing through the rubble to determine how the fire spread so quickly and whether safety rules were ignored.
Families of victims gathered outside a nearby hospital overnight. Many demanded accountability.
“My brother went to work and never came home,” one man said, holding back tears. “Somebody needs to explain how this was allowed to happen.”
The death toll is expected to rise.
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