Rescue teams expect to recover more bodies from the ground floor, where fire originated
Rescue and emergency team members gather near heavy machinery before starting their search for survivors, following a massive fire that broke out in the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in Karachi on January 22. Photo: Reuters
KARACHI:
The death toll from the Gul Plaza fire has risen to 71 as rescue teams recovered additional human remains during ongoing search operations, with authorities expecting the final sweep of the building to be completed by today (Friday).
According to the in-charge of the identification desk at the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC), Amir Hassan, four bags containing human remains were brought to the hospital during the night. “These remains could belong to four individuals,” he said, adding that the death toll has potentially reached 71.
Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed stated that the identities of 16 individuals have been confirmed. Six bodies were fully identified, she added, with one identified via an ID card, and nine people identified through DNA testing. A total of 45 DNA samples were collected from bodies and body parts.
Read: Search at Gul Plaza enters fifth day with 67 bodies recovered so far
Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khoso, stated that the final list of missing persons stands at 77. He added that the search operation is in its final stage and that the work of searching through the debris will be completed by today.
An SBCA team has been deployed at the site, with all work being carried out under their supervision, Khoso stated.
Meanwhile, DG Rescue 1122 stated that about 10% to 15% of the building had not been reached previously, but those sections will be searched today. He expressed concern that the ground floor, where the fire broke out, had not yet been accessed, saying that bodies are expected to be recovered from there.
“Days have passed since the tragedy, there is no hope anyone survived,” he stated.
The DG confirmed that the fire started in a flower shop, with preliminary findings indicating it spread via a duct.
He explained that when rescue teams arrived at the scene, the fire was at a third-degree level. “No suit in the world can withstand a third-degree fire. The most advanced suits and masks in the world were used,” he said.
Revealing that the building did not have a fire safety system, nor was it functional, the DG stated that GPS radar had been used over the past three days to check if anyone was alive inside the building.
Read More: Gul Plaza fire causes Rs100 billion in losses, 1,000 shops destroyed
Yesterday, the death toll rose to 67 as rescue teams continued recovery operations for a fifth consecutive day amid fears that more remains may still be buried under the rubble.
About 80% of the site had been searched, according to rescue officials, with heavy debris from nearly 40% of the collapsed portion remaining to be cleared.
The blaze, which broke out on Saturday night, destroyed the commercial plaza and left it severely damaged.
Human remains were recovered from the rubble during debris removal and were shifted to Civil Hospital Karachi for medico-legal procedures.
