Son Called Parents to ‘Save Him’ from Inside Market Fire That Killed at Least 50. Days Later, Dozens More Remain Missing

At least 50 people have died after a devastating fire tore through a multi-level market in Karachi, Pakistan, over the weekend. As rescue teams continue searching for those still unaccounted for, survivors and relatives of the missing are describing frantic final phone calls — and growing anger over what they say were deadly safety failures.

The blaze erupted on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 17, at Gul Plaza, a massive commercial complex that houses more than 1,200 shops. The fire spread rapidly across floors, leaving large sections of the building reduced to ash and debris. In the days since, officials have confirmed at least 50 deaths, while first responders continue combing through the rubble, Reuters and Deutsche Welle reported.

Haroon, a local resident, told the BBC that two of his three brothers managed to escape — but one remains missing as of Tuesday, Jan. 20.

“My brother called our parents from inside the plaza asking them to save him,” he said. “He also called his friends and appealed to them, but no one could save him.”

Another relative, Muhammad Qaiser, told the BBC that his wife, sister, and daughter-in-law were still missing as of Tuesday.

“They had said that they were going to the market,” he said. “The last contact with them was at 20:00 when it was discovered that a fire had broken out. We do not know what happened to them.”

Deutsche Welle reported that 84 people have been listed as missing. The outlet also said firefighters struggled to bring the flames under control, with the blaze continuing for roughly 24 hours.

“When we arrived, the fire from the ground floor had spread to the upper floors, and almost the entire building was already engulfed in flames,” Pakistan Emergency Services Department (Rescue 122) spokesperson Hassanul Haseeb previously told Reuters.

Officials initially suggested the fire may have started after a “short circuit” in one of the shops, Sindh Inspector General Javed Alam Odho told reporters at the scene, according to Pakistan’s Dawn. The investigation remains ongoing, and government officials did not immediately respond to requests for additional details.

As families mourn — and others wait in agony for news — frustration is spilling into public protest. Deutsche Welle reported that relatives and locals have been calling for change, as questions mount about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

Witnesses told the BBC they believe there weren’t enough functioning fire exits, and said the tightly packed structure made escape nearly impossible once flames spread. Business owners and urban planners have also accused authorities of long-standing mismanagement in Karachi, The New York Times reported.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has launched an investigation into the disaster, the Times reported. Meanwhile, shopkeepers are trying to salvage what they can, and families continue burying the dead — while others cling to hope that missing loved ones might still be found.

“If the fire engines had arrived on time, with proper ladders, this could have been contained,” Mujtaba Ali told the Times. “They were calling us from inside, saying the stairways were locked. What chance did they have?”