At least five people were killed in a massive fire that broke out late Saturday night at Gul Plaza shopping mall on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan. Officials said the blaze burned for more than ten hours before being partially brought under control. By Sunday morning, part of the building had collapsed due to intense heat, and firefighters were still unable to enter the structure, severely disrupting rescue and search operations.

The Chief Fire Officer said the building’s enclosed design and poor ventilation made firefighting extremely difficult. Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khosa told Geo News that the fire had reignited in the rear section of the first floor and that people might still be trapped between the first and second floors. He added that the lack of emergency exits was under investigation and that the building’s fire safety compliance would be reviewed. Rescue 1122 officials reported that 20 fire tenders and four snorkels were deployed from three directions, but large amounts of flammable materials inside hindered progress.

Authorities confirmed that 25 people had been rescued alive, though an unknown number remained trapped as parts of the building continued to collapse.