Locked exits, panic and desperate calls for help: Survivors tell of mall fire horror

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete January 21, 2026 at 01:03 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

A large fire engulfed Gul Plaza, a wholesale shopping center in Karachi, Pakistan, on Saturday evening, leaving dozens missing and presumed dead. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but its rapid spread was reportedly worsened by locked exits and crowded conditions within the building, which housed around 1,200 shops. Survivors reported panic and confusion as the fire quickly consumed the market, which was popular for its affordable goods. Many people are still unaccounted for, leaving families in distress as they await news of their loved ones. The incident highlights concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in densely populated commercial areas.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Riaz Sohail 40% Zubair Khan 40% Qaisar Kamran 40% BBC Urdu ×250% Rehan Faisal ×260% Shoiab 60% Pakistan 70% Muhammed Amin ×270% Naveed Memon 70% Karachi 80% Gul Plaza ×490%

Keywords

mall fire 100% locked exits 90% panic 80% gul plaza 80% missing people 70% shopping center 60% karachi 60% fire safety 50%

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Very Negative

Score: -0.80

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Source

BBC News - World

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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mall fire locked exits panic gul plaza missing people shopping center karachi fire safety

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