Death toll in Karachi mall fire jumps to 11

Firefighters in Karachi began searching on Monday for more than 60 missing people after a massive fire destroyed a shopping mall in Pakistan's most populous city, while the death toll from the disaster rose to 11.



The fire started late on Saturday at the sprawling, multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre in the city's business district and burned for more than 24 hours, hampering rescue efforts in the densely packed area.



After more than 24 hours of firefighting, crews moved to cooling and debris-clearing on Sunday, although concerns grew that more victims could still be trapped inside.



Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed told Reuters the death toll had risen to 11, while Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab said on Sunday that more than 60 people were still missing.



Firefighters said the lack of ventilation in the building, which houses more than 1,200 shops, caused thick smoke to fill the mall and slowed efforts to reach people trapped inside.