Rescue teams in Karachi have recovered 23 bodies so far from the site of the devastating fire at Gul Plaza, the shopping plaza blaze that broke out late on January 17, 2026, police and firefighting officials confirmed on Monday. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza said that six of the remains have been officially identified, while the rest will require DNA testing before formal identification can be completed as part of the ongoing recovery operation.
The blaze, which raged through the multi-storey complex in Saddar and forced prolonged rescue efforts, left numerous parts of the building badly damaged, complicating access to trapped victims. Authorities have registered 69 missing persons, and investigators have linked the last known locations of 32 of them to Gul Plaza, underscoring the scale of the human toll.
The Sindh government and emergency services continue search and recovery operations amid concerns over structural instability and hazardous conditions within the gutted plaza. Officials emphasised that recovery efforts are proceeding cautiously to ensure safety and to locate any additional victims as more information comes in from families and helpline registrations.