Massive fire engulfs shopping mall in Pakistan’s Karachi; death toll rises to six

Firefighters in Pakistan’s largest city were fighting to extinguish ‍a massive blaze on Sunday (January 18, 2026) that has ​killed six people and reduced parts ‌of a shopping mall to ​rubble in Karachi’s historic downtown.

Videos showed flames rising from the building as firefighters laboured through the night to stop the fire from spreading in the dense business district. Hundreds of ​people had gathered around the building, ⁠including distraught store owners whose businesses had turned to ash.

The fire erupted on Saturday (January 17, 2026) night, ​with rescue services receiving ⁠a call at 10:38 p.m. (1738 GMT) reporting that ground floor shops at Gul Plaza were ablaze.

“When we ‌arrived, the fire from the ‌ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the ‍entire building was already engulfed in flames,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb Khan told ‍Reuters.

Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said six bodies had been brought to Karachi’s Civil Hospital and 11 people who had been injured, adding that police were “invoking mass disaster protocols”.

Images of the mall’s interior revealed the charred remains of ⁠stores and a bright orange glow as flames continued ​to rise throughout the building.

Local media reported that ⁠parts of the building had started to collapse and rescue officials feared the whole structure could come down. 

TV footage showed firefighters in protective gear battling the flames. Several fire trucks used ladders, water cannons and hoses to douse the building’s floors, where flames shot out of windows and balconies. Thick black smoke billowed into the night sky and was visible from several blocks away, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

Authorities said the fire spread rapidly after erupting in an area of the mall where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household goods, which helped fuel the flames.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Police said an investigation would be launched once the blaze was extinguished. However, most structures in Karachi, and other parts of the country, lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often results in damages and casualties.

With AP, Reuters inputs