Millennium Mall Blaze
A massive fire broke out at Karachi’s Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road early Tuesday morning, engulfing and destroying over 500 shops before it was nearly brought under control by rescue teams after hours of intense firefighting.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan, the blaze erupted at around 4:06 am, and rescue teams reached the site within 15 minutes of the alert.
Initial investigations suggest the fire started due to a short circuit in the mall’s surveillance control room on the third floor. A security guard on duty was the first to inform firefighters of the situation.
However, it appears that the mall management may have underestimated the severity of the incident in its early stages, leading to a delayed full-scale response.
By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had already spread to the roof of the centrally air-conditioned building, where several chillers were installed, further intensifying the flames.
The fire grew so large that it sent thick flames and smoke toward nearby structures, including the Saima Mall and Residency building, raising concerns of the fire spreading further. Rescue teams swiftly mobilized 12 fire tenders and utilized two snorkels to bring the blaze under control.
After several hours of effort, the fire was 90 percent extinguished, though cooling operations are ongoing and may take an additional few hours due to the scale of the damage and the large objects inside the shops that continue to smolder.
The three-story commercial complex suffered extensive damage, with the third floor being completely gutted and the first and second floors sustaining partial destruction.
With over 150 shops on each floor, officials estimate that between 500 and 600 outlets have been badly affected, resulting in major financial losses for the shopkeepers and businesses operating in the mall.
Fortunately, despite the scale of destruction, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. The incident highlights longstanding concerns about inadequate fire safety infrastructure in Karachi.
In a 2023 symposium, urban planners and engineers had warned that up to 90 percent of buildings in the city, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, lack basic fire prevention and control systems. The Millennium Mall blaze stands as a stark reminder of these vulnerabilities and the urgent need for enforcement of fire safety codes in the city.
