Recovery of 5 more bodies from Karachi shopping plaza brings fire death toll to 28

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — The bodies of five more people were recovered on Tuesday from the scene of last weekend's massive fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s largest city, bringing the confirmed death toll to 28, officials said.

The search for dozens of people reported missing is continuing as rescuers reached some of the most badly damaged sections in Karachi's multistory Gul Plaza that have either collapsed or been severely weakened since Saturday's blaze.

The cause of the fire, which raged for more than 24 hours before firefighters brought it under control, is still unclear, according to officials.

Mobile phone data showed at least 31 of the people reported missing were inside the plaza on the night of the fire, senior police official Asad Raza said. Authorities believe others reported missing may not have been carrying cellphones, Raza said.

Six members of Mehmood Khan's family are among those missing. “My two 15-year-old nephews, a cousin, and three other relatives,” he told The Associated Press.

He said they were last heard of about an hour after the fire broke out, when they received a voice message saying smoke had filled the building.

Firefighter Muhammad Aslam, 57, said the main section collapsed while first responders were inside the building, killing his colleague Furqan Ali and injuring another firefighter.

Nearly a third of the mall has collapsed, according to Dr. Abid Jalal Sheikh, a senior rescue official.

“We still cannot enter the upper sections because of the weakened structure and dense smoke in narrow alleys and small shops,” he told the AP.

Karachi's Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that some sections of the building had already been searched and heavy machinery was being used to clear rubble from a portion that collapsed Sunday.

Wahab met with families of the missing, many visibly shaken, and assured them that authorities were making every effort to locate those still unaccounted for.

“We will continue this rescue operation until all missing persons are found,” he told reporters.

Authorities said many of the recovered bodies were burned beyond recognition. In several cases, only body parts were found and DNA testing is underway to identify the victims, according to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed.

On Monday, Sindh provincial Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the government would provide 10 million rupees ($36,000) in compensation to the family of each victim.

Rescuers were working around the clock and there was hope some trapped victims might still be found alive, he said.

The sprawling shopping plaza houses about 1,200 shops, most selling imported clothing, cosmetics and plastic household goods. Dozens of the missing were shop owners and customers.

Karachi, the capital of southern Sindh province, has a long history of deadly fires, often blamed on poor safety standards, lax enforcement and illegal construction.

In November 2023, a shopping mall fire killed 10 people and injured 22 others. One of the deadliest industrial disasters in Pakistan’s history occurred in 2012, when a fire at a Karachi garment factory killed at least 260 people.

Mahmood Khan shows the press pictures of six family members who he says went missing after the fire at a multi-story shopping plaza, as he waits for information about them at the site of the fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Farooq)

Firefighter Mohammad Aslam, who was injured during rescue operations, stands at the site of a burnt, multi-story shopping plaza in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, following a massive fire. (AP Photo/Mohammad Farooq)

A family member of a missing person waits near the site of a burnt building of a multistory shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Rescue workers and firefighters work with heavy machinery to clear the rubble of a burnt building of a multi-story shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Rescue workers and firefighters use heavy machinery to clear the rubble of a burnt building of a multistory shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

Rescue workers and firefighters work with heavy machinery to clear the rubble of a burnt building of a multi-story shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

A family member of a missing person waits as rescue workers and firefighters search through the rubble of a burnt building of a multistory shopping plaza following a massive fire in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder withstood multiple injury-related absences to trounce the Milwaukee Bucks 122-102 on Wednesday night.

The Thunder won for the seventh time in eight games despite playing without Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein (strained right soleus), Alex Caruso (strained right adductor), Aaron Wiggins (sore right groin) and Jaylin Williams (bruised left glute).

Gilgeous-Alexander picked up the slack, as the reigning MVP shot 16 of 19 from the floor.

According to Sportradar, this marked just the second time since at least the 1980-81 season that a player had at least 40 points and 10 assists in a game while shooting 80% or better. Coincidentally, the other instance was just a day earlier, when Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley had 40 points and 10 assists while shooting 11 of 13 in the Raptors’ 145-127 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.

Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half and ended up playing 25 minutes before leaving with a hip bruise. Kenrich Williams also scored 18 points for the Thunder, who shot 54.4% from the floor.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

The Bucks were missing Myles Turner due to a sprained left ankle and Kevin Porter Jr. because of a strained oblique. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Turner was day to day, but that Porter is “not going to play anytime soon.”

Porter's injury resulted in more playing time for Cole Anthony, who responded with 17 points off the bench. Bobby Portis added 15 points and a career-high nine assists.

Milwaukee lost despite getting 46 points from its bench.

Oklahoma City scored the game’s first seven points and never looked back while closing a four-game trip in which it went 3-1. Milwaukee committed eight of its 16 turnovers in the first quarter as the Thunder built a 38-18 lead.

The margin never dropped below 14 the rest of the way as Oklahoma City led by as many as 25.

Thunder: Host the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Bucks: Host the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Oklahoma City Thunder's Ajay Mitchell tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots past Milwaukee Bucks' Cole Anthony during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Brooks Barnhizer tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kenrich Williams tried to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Pete Nance during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks' Ryan Rollins during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)