The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road has climbed to 71, according to officials at Civil Hospital Karachi.
Hospital sources said the figure increased after forensic teams examined additional human remains recovered during the ongoing search operation. Authorities had transferred the remains to Civil Hospital for DNA profiling after recovery from the site a day earlier.
Doctors involved in the post-mortem process said the volume of remains exceeded earlier assessments. The finding suggests the scale of the tragedy may be larger than initially believed. Identification work remains underway, with forensic teams proceeding cautiously.
So far, authorities have formally identified 17 victims. Officials expect the number to rise as DNA matching progresses.
The fire broke out late on Saturday, January 17, and rapidly engulfed large portions of the building. The incident sent shockwaves across Karachi, as several people remain missing days after the blaze.
Read: Gul Plaza Fire: Search Enters Sixth Day as Death Toll Reaches 60 in Karachi
Although firefighters have extinguished the flames, the structure remains unstable. Damage to key supports continues to hamper rescue and recovery efforts inside the building.
Search teams from the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Rangers, and civil authorities remain active at the site. Engineers are simultaneously assessing the building’s stability to reduce risks to rescue workers.
Authorities have also set up help desks and DNA collection centres to assist families searching for missing relatives. Officials urged families to cooperate with these centres to speed up the identification process.
The situation remains fluid, and officials expect further updates as recovery work and forensic analysis continue throughout the day.
