Karachi: Rimpa Plaza has been declared unsafe following the deadly fire at Gul Plaza, as the number of confirmed deaths has risen to 28. Search and rescue teams are still looking for 81 missing people.
The Sindh Building Control Authority has labeled Rimpa Plaza dangerous after the massive blaze in the neighboring Gul Plaza weakened its structure. Officials stated that the intense third-degree fire badly damaged the columns of Rimpa Plaza, making parts of the building hazardous.
Notices have been issued to the plaza’s management and shop owners, while the SBCA has banned the use of the affected sections. Authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against anyone carrying out unauthorized activities inside the building.
The tragedy has sparked serious concerns about safety standards and emergency planning in the area. The fire at Gul Plaza has so far claimed 28 lives, with dozens still unaccounted for.
Shopkeepers have shared alarming details about the building’s lack of safety measures. Although the market has 26 entry and exit gates, only two remain open after 10 pm, while the rest are locked.
At the time of the fire, 24 of these gates were closed, leaving people with no proper escape routes. As flames spread quickly, thick smoke filled the market, making it hard to see. The electricity was cut off, increasing fear and confusion.
Many trapped inside struggled to breathe as smoke spread through the building, and several lost consciousness within minutes. Shopkeepers, seeing the chaos unfold, stepped in to help. Using their own efforts, they managed to rescue a number of people and guide them out while the fire continued to rage.
Workers and customers were inside the shops when the incident occurred, all caught off guard by the disaster.