Overview
- Authorities said the late-Saturday blaze at the multi-storey complex on MA Jinnah Road swept through a basement and about 1,200 shops before being doused late Sunday.
- Officials initially confirmed six fatalities, including a firefighter, while Dunya News later reported 14 dead and about 30 injured, with more than 50 people still reported missing.
- Search-and-recovery began after cooling due to collapse risks, poor ventilation and intense heat, as one side of the building gave way and interior pillars weakened.
- Police and rescue leaders cited a suspected electrical short circuit or faulty circuit breaker, with the Sindh chief minister ordering an inquiry and a citywide fire-safety audit of commercial buildings.
- A large multi-agency operation deployed over 20 fire tenders, snorkels, water bowzers, Rescue 1122, Rangers and Navy support, as traders estimated losses running into billions of rupees and set up help lines for missing reports.