Muhammed Amin is beside himself with grief and despair.
His brother, Naveed Memon, was inside Gul Plaza when a massive fire ripped through the densely-packed shopping centre in Pakistan's commercial capital, Karachi.
Like dozens of others, he still hasn't been found.
What should I tell my mother when I go home? What should I tell my nieces? asks Amin.
My nieces are crying for their father - they are asking me why he is late to come home. What should I tell them? How can I tell them that their father is gone?
Housing an estimated 1,200 shops across multiple floors, Gul Plaza was a bustling market that attracted crowds, especially during celebrations and weddings.
What started the fire is still unknown.
Witnesses report that the speed of its spread, coupled with a lack of functioning fire exits and high traffic inside the complex, worsened the situation.
Rehan Faisal, a shop owner, narrowly escaped by breaking down a door near an exit. He mentioned that panic ensued once the fire was realized, stating, No one knew it would spread so much. It took only minutes for everything to burn before our eyes. Survivors shared harrowing accounts of locked exits causing severe complications during the evacuation process.
As rescue operations continue amidst the hazardous and unstable structure, officials have reported 27 confirmed deaths, with over 70 still missing. The challenging condition of the building complicates efforts to search for survivors or retrieve bodies.
Desperate family members have gathered at the site, waiting for any news, while public outrage grows over the emergency response delays. Accountability for building safety and emergency protocols has become a central issue, with promises of an investigation from provincial officials.
Karachi's Mayor faced public scrutiny after delays in the response, raising questions about safety measures and protocols in place to protect citizens in public spaces.
As of now, the community mourns their losses while advocating for preventable measures to ensure such tragedies are not repeated.
