A devastating fire at the Gul Plaza shopping complex in Karachi has left the city in shock, with authorities continuing the search for dozens of missing civilians amid chaotic rescue efforts. The blaze, which engulfed the multi-storey building and raged for over 30 hours, has so far claimed 26 confirmed lives, while 81 people remain unaccounted for following the tragedy.
Rescue teams, supported by military and civil agencies, are cautiously navigating the unstable structure to recover trapped victims and clear debris. Due to the severe fire damage, many of the bodies recovered are in conditions that make visual identification impossible. As a result, authorities have begun DNA testing to accurately identify the deceased and provide closure to grieving families.
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Family members of missing persons have been asked to submit DNA samples, which are being processed by forensic laboratories to match with remains. Emergency identification camps and help desks have been set up near the site to assist relatives throughout the challenging process.
The incident has drawn widespread concern over fire safety standards and emergency response preparedness in crowded commercial areas. Meanwhile, families of the missing and the public continue to await further updates as recovery and identification efforts press on.
