Rescuers transfer a victim to an ambulance outside a shopping mall in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Nov. 25, 2023. (Str/Xinhua)
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A devastating fire engulfed a shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan's southern port city, on Saturday, leaving at least 11 people dead and over 20 others injured.
Deputy Commissioner of Karachi East District Altaf Shaikh confirmed the grim toll to media outlets on Saturday evening, noting that the number of fatalities could rise as several of the injured were in critical condition at three different hospitals due to severe burn injuries.
The official stated that the fire had been extinguished and a cooling operation was underway at the multi-story shopping mall on Rashid Minhas Road. He further explained that once the mall's structural integrity is assessed, a thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
However, rescue personnel indicated that the fire originated from a faulty generator situated on the mall's rooftop.
Caretaker chief minister of the southern Sindh province Maqbool Baqar has ordered an immediate inquiry into the deadly fire, vowing that the government will ensure accountability and punishment for those responsible for the tragedy.
Earlier this month, an official report revealed that a staggering 90 percent of all buildings in Karachi, including residential, commercial, and industrial structures, lack adequate fire prevention, firefighting systems, and fire exit facilities. ■
