Karachi shopping centre fire leaves 23 dead and dozens missing

Rescuers recovered 23 bodies after a fire at the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, and authorities say they are still searching for dozens more people while an inquiry and investigation are under way.

Rescuers have recovered 23 bodies after a large fire at the multi-storey Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, officials said. Firefighters extinguished the blaze nearly 24 hours after it began, and rescue teams continued searches for people reported missing. Provincial authorities announced an inquiry and said an investigation into the cause is under way. Known details: - Twenty-three bodies have been recovered so far; only six have been identified and officials said the others require DNA testing. - Karachi police chief Asad Raza said authorities are searching for 46 more people believed to be unaccounted for. - About 80 people were reported injured in the blaze, and 22 have been released from hospital. - Sindh provincial officials said an inquiry will be conducted and announced government compensation for families of those killed; the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Summary: The recovery and identification effort is ongoing while teams search for missing people and process the injured. An official inquiry and investigation have been announced; the timeline for conclusions from those processes is undetermined at this time.