A devastating fire at a multi-story shopping mall in Karachi has claimed 60 lives as of January 22, 2026, with rescue teams recovering 30 bodies from the building's mezzanine floor. Senior police official Syed Asad Raza confirmed the rising death toll, noting that search operations continue for missing individuals amid unstable structural conditions.
Rescue workers face significant challenges due to intense heat and dense smoke within the partially collapsed building. Sophisticated equipment is being deployed to clear debris from two remaining sections still under exploration, while one area has been fully secured.
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi announced a comprehensive investigation into the fire's causes, examining multiple potential factors. The tragedy has raised urgent questions about commercial building safety protocols in Pakistan's largest city, home to over 16 million residents.
