Death toll in Karachi shopping centre fire rises to 67

The death toll from a devastating fire at the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, Pakistan, has risen to 67 people.

Most of the bodies were found in one of the shops, where people had gathered after the fire broke out in an attempt to avoid panic and a crush. Dozens of people are still listed as missing, according to foreign media.

The fire erupted late in the evening of January 17 at the shopping centre in the southern port city of Karachi. The flames rapidly spread across a large area of the complex, which was crowded with people at the time. Rescue operations are ongoing, although cleanup work has been temporarily suspended until search-and-rescue efforts are completed.

As reported earlier, one of the most destructive fires in recent years broke out late on January 17 in the port city of Karachi in southern Pakistan and quickly engulfed the vast Gul Plaza commercial complex.

By Tamilla Hasanova