Death toll in Pakistan mall fire rises to 67: Local government
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A firefighter spraying water among the rubble of Gul Plaza in Karachi, Pakistan, on Jan 22.
PHOTO: EPA
KARACHI – The death toll from a mall fire in Pakistan’s biggest city
Investigators have yet to announce what caused the fire, six days after the blaze gutted the three-storey Gul Plaza
“Post-mortem examinations of 67 bodies have been completed,” said the spokesman, adding that DNA analysis is ongoing.
“The identities of eight individuals have been confirmed through DNA analysis”, he added.
Families have criticised the slow pace of the recovery operation, with more than 50 people giving DNA samples in the hope of finding their missing relatives.
The provincial government has announced that it will give 10 million rupees (S$139,600) to each family of the deceased. All 1,200 shopkeepers affected will also be compensated.
Fires are common in Karachi’s markets and factories, which are known for their poor infrastructure, but a blaze on such a scale is rare.
The provincial government is taking measures to ensure that fire safety procedures are followed at malls and markets, the spkesman said, without giving further details. AFP
