KARACHI: The death toll in the Gul Plaza blaze keeps on climbing, with fatalities reaching 14 after the rescuers managed to douse the inferno after around 33 hours of arduous efforts.
With parts of the building left collapsed and uproar over alleged shortcomings in the authorities’ response, the cooling process is underway with rescuers making way into the building by cutting windows and demolishing walls with hammers.
Fire Officer Zafar Khan has said that,” the condition of the building is bad, so we cannot stay [there] for long”.
The rescue work, Khan added, is being carried out in places considered relatively safe to operate, where the rescuers exit immediately after inspecting it, for survivors.
However, the official said that the relief work is expected to speed up.
With Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirming 14 deaths, rescuers have said that five of the bodies recovered from the site are beyond identification.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
