Pakistani shopping mall blaze kills at least 10 people and injures 22 others

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A devastating blaze at Karachi’s RJ Mall in Pakistan resulted in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and left 22 others injured, as confirmed by police and officials this Saturday.

Situated in a bustling commercial skyscraper, the RJ Mall shares its space with various call centers and tech companies.

Following the initial alert at 6:30 a.m local time, the fire service rapidly deployed eight engines to the location. The building’s fourth floor suffered the most damage, according to Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan, the chief fire officer.

Karachi’s Mayor, Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the blaze had been successfully put out and cooling operations were in progress.

He reported from the scene that five of the injured were critically wounded. “Our efforts are fully focused on saving their lives and providing the necessary medical treatment,” Siddiqui stated to the press.

The reason behind the fire remains undetermined.

Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, is no stranger to such tragedies. In April of the current year, a fire in a garment factory claimed the lives of four firefighters and led to the collapse of the building.

Moreover, in August 2021, a chemical factory fire in the same city resulted in 10 fatalities. The most catastrophic incident in recent memory was a garment factory fire where 260 people perished after being trapped inside.

This week, a report by Dawn, Pakistan’s foremost English-language newspaper, highlighted a concerning lack of fire safety measures in Karachi’s buildings, whether residential, commercial, or industrial. City planners and engineers criticized the Sindh Building Control Authority for what they termed ‘criminal negligence’, endangering millions of city residents.

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More about Karachi mall fire

• Karachi RJ Mall Fire Incident
• Karachi Fire Safety Concerns
• Pakistan’s Building Fire Regulations
• Firefighting Response in Karachi Mall Blaze
• History of Fire Incidents in Karachi