More than 65 missing, six dead after massive mall fire

Firefighters in Karachi searched on Sunday for more than 65 missing people after a massive fire tore through a shopping mall in the historic downtown district, killing six and reducing parts of the building to rubble.



Videos showed flames rising from the building as firefighters laboured through the night ⁠to stop the blaze, which started on Saturday night, from spreading in the dense business district.



After fighting the flames for over 24 hours, firefighters began cooling the steaming rubble of the nearly collapsed structure.



Firefighters reported the lack of ventilation in the mall, which houses over 1,200 shops, caused the building to fill with smoke and slowed rescue efforts.



Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab told reporters at the scene that 65 people were still missing.



Rescue officials said six people had been killed and 20 others were wounded.



According to media reports, ⁠people chanted slogans criticising the mayor who came to the site after 23 hours.



Hundreds of people had gathered around the building, including distraught store owners whose businesses had turned to ash.