KARACHI: The death toll from the devastating fire at Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road has climbed to 61 after rescue teams recovered 30 bodies from a single crockery shop inside the building, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

DIG South Asad Raza said the victims were found on the mezzanine floor, where shopkeepers had earlier reported people trapped. Authorities temporarily halted debris removal to allow recovery of the bodies. Officials noted that several victims had locked themselves inside the shop to escape smoke and flames, with mobile phone location data later confirming their presence at the site.

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso announced that Rescue 1122 has been directed to conduct a final search operation before the building is demolished. He said the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) had already declared Gul Plaza dangerous and unfit for use, and will oversee demolition once recovery efforts are complete.

According to the police surgeon, 11 bodies have been identified so far. DNA samples from the recovered remains and 51 relatives have been collected to assist with identification. Meanwhile, the family of 65‑year‑old Jahangir Shah has registered his disappearance, raising the number of missing persons to 86.

Rescue operations have cleared the ground, mezzanine, and first floors of the fire‑damaged plaza. More than 40 percent of the structure has collapsed, while the remaining portion is highly unstable and at risk of further collapse. Teams have removed 32 vehicles and several large generators from the rooftop to reduce structural pressure, with debris cleared using heavy machinery and manual labor under difficult conditions.

Authorities have also sealed the adjacent Rampa Plaza as a precaution. SBCA has been asked to provide building plans and related documents to assess risks to neighboring structures.