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Karachi Gul Plaza Fire Death Toll Rises to 30 as Search Continues for Dozens Missing

A sweeping safety crackdown follows the blaze as officials rely on DNA to name the dead.

Overview

  • Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed said fatalities have reached 30, with roughly 80 people still unaccounted for as recovery teams work through unstable sections.
  • DNA profiling is underway at the Sindh Forensic DNA Laboratory after families submitted samples, and officials report only a small number of victims have been identified so far.
  • Rescuers have cleared much of the basement and lower floors using heavy machinery, but collapsed areas and recurring hot spots are slowing progress, with officials warning the operation could take days.
  • The Sindh Building Control Authority declared adjacent Rimpa Plaza unsafe due to structural damage from falling debris, as the KMC launched fire-safety audits and ordered builders to remedy violations within three days.
  • Authorities formed inquiry and forensic teams, announced Rs10 million compensation per fatality, and cited reports of locked exits and missing emergency egress as central factors under investigation.