Rescue workers search through the debris using excavators after a massive fire at a mall in Karachi. Photo: AFP
The death toll from a massive fire at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road rose to 29 on Wednesday, while more than 80 people remained missing as rescue teams continued search operations in hazardous conditions days after the blaze broke out.
Rescue 1122 said another body was recovered from the debris, taking the confirmed death toll to 29. Human remains were also found during the operation and moved to a hospital for further examination.
Read: Gul Plaza fire toll rises to 28 as DNA tests begin to identify victims
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said debris removal would not begin until all missing persons were accounted for. He said rescue and search operations were continuing under the supervision of a technical team.
Officials said the number of missing persons rose to 86 after the family of a 65-year-old man, Jahangir Shah, registered his details at the missing persons desk. Authorities said some records were duplicates and were being verified.
Rescue officials said three more bodies were identified from previously unidentifiable remains through DNA tests conducted by the Citizen Police Liaison Committee. The identified victims included a 15-year-old girl and two adult men. Families have started receiving bodies from the mortuary.
Read more: The death toll in the Gul Plaza fire rises to 26 as rescue efforts continue
Rescue teams entered the building nearly 40 hours after the fire broke out late Saturday night, but faced repeated setbacks as flames continued to reignite in various parts of the structure. Officials said lingering smoke and intense heat complicated operations, especially in collapsed parts of the square.
Speaking to the media at the site, an official from DC South said that the intact part of the building was also searched and access routes were established inside the structure. He said the entire square would be demolished only after search operations were completed.
Authorities have temporarily sealed off the adjacent Rampa Plaza pending a report from the Sindh Building Control Authority to assess possible risks.
Read also: Gul Plaza fire causes Rs 100 billion loss, 1,000 shops destroyed
Police are also investigating the disappearance of two dump trucks in connection with the incident, officials said.
Relatives of missing persons expressed concern over debris removal, saying they feared human remains could be taken away with the rubble.
