Archive · 26 Jan 2026
Deadly Fires in Hyderabad and Karachi
There were two big fires in different cities.
In Hyderabad, India, five people died in a fire at a furniture shop building.
The fire started in the basement, where people were living and storing things they shouldn't have.
In Karachi, Pakistan, a fire at a shopping plaza killed 72 people, and 12 are still missing.
The fire started in the basement and spread quickly.
Both fires showed that there weren't enough safety measures to protect people.
Officials are investigating both fires to find out what happened and how to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Five people died in a fire at a furniture shop building in Hyderabad, India, including two children and an elderly woman.
The Hyderabad fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short-circuit or cooking gas, with gross violations of fire safety norms.
The death toll in a shopping plaza fire in Karachi, Pakistan, rose to 72, with 12 people still missing.
The Karachi fire started in the basement and spread quickly, highlighting the lack of fire fighting equipment and safety measures in commercial buildings.
Rescue and search operations in both cities involved multiple agencies, with difficulties in accessing the basements due to blocked pathways and heavy smoke.
- Who
- Victims include five people in Hyderabad (two children, an elderly woman, and two workers) and 72 people in Karachi (with 12 still missing).
- What
- Fires broke out in a furniture shop building in Hyderabad and a shopping plaza in Karachi.
- When
- The Hyderabad fire occurred on Saturday, January 24, and the Karachi fire on January 17.
- Where
- Hyderabad, India, and Karachi, Pakistan.
- Why
- The cause of the Hyderabad fire is suspected to be an electrical short-circuit or cooking gas, while the cause of the Karachi fire is unknown and under investigation.
- Hyderabad Fire
- Five people, including two children and an elderly woman, died in a fire at a furniture shop building.
- Karachi Fire
- The death toll in a shopping plaza fire rose to 72, with 12 people still missing.
- Hyderabad Fire Cause
- Suspected electrical short-circuit or cooking gas.
- Karachi Fire Cause
- Unknown, investigation ongoing.
- Hyderabad Fire Safety Violations
- Gross violations of fire safety norms, including illegal storage in basements.
- Karachi Fire Safety Measures
- Lack of fire fighting equipment and safety measures in commercial buildings.
- Hyderabad Rescue Operations
- Multiple agencies, including police, fire, NDRF, and HYDRAA, participated in rescue operations.
- Karachi Rescue Operations
- Rescue and search operations continued for a week, with human remains still being recovered.
Sources
Five killed in fire at furniture shop building in Hyderabad, officials find basement violations
Karachi fire death toll rises to 72
Karachi shopping plaza fire toll rises to 72, dozens missing
Hyderabad Shop Blaze: Fire chief says criminal negligence by owner after 5 bodies retrieved
Police, GHMC to Act Against Illegal Basement Use