ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people have been confirmed dead in a massive fire at a shopping mall in Karachi, the capital of Pakistan's southern Sindh province, officials said on Monday.
A spokesperson for state-run Rescue 1122 said an extensive urban search and rescue operation continued at the Gul Plaza building, which was severely damaged by the blaze. More casualties were feared as the structure remained unstable and large sections of the building had collapsed.
The blaze erupted late Saturday night at Gul Plaza, a multi-storey shopping mall located on MA Jinnah Road, which houses over 1,200 shops. It was brought under control after more than 24 hours of firefighting on Sunday.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said more than 65 people who were reported to have visited the plaza were still missing.
"We are all sorrowful. We all share their grief," the chief minister said, referring to the families of the victims.
Shah said the provincial government would provide compensation of 10 million Pakistani rupees (about 36,000 U.S. dollars) to the family of each victim.
The rescue service said a dedicated firefighting team remained engaged in cooling operations to ensure a safe working environment, while heavy machinery was being used in a controlled manner to remove debris and create access routes, rescue officials said.
According to Rescue 1122, several bodies were found badly charred or in parts due to intense heat and prolonged exposure to fire, making immediate identification difficult. Technical and forensic procedures will be used to establish identities.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, though police earlier said it was suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit. ■