Rescue and search operations continued for a fifth consecutive day at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping centre on Tuesday, as authorities confirmed the recovery of 28 bodies and said 85 people remained missing following a massive fire that ripped through the building over the weekend.

Rescue officials said teams had cleared the basement and first floor of the commercial complex and had begun systematic searches on the second and third floors.

During Tuesday’s operation, the body of a child was also recovered from the damaged structure.

The fire has yet to be declared fully extinguished, with officials maintaining heightened alert amid concerns over structural instability.

Two more firefighters were injured during operations on Tuesday, one of them critically. Authorities have also warned of a possible collapse risk to the adjacent Rampa Plaza building.

According to Police Surgeon Dr Samia Syed, eight of the 28 recovered bodies have so far been identified.

Two victims were identified through national identity cards and driving licences found at the site.

Forensic identification is ongoing, with 51 DNA samples collected from relatives of the missing and sent to the Sindh Forensic DNA and Serology Laboratory and the University of Karachi.

Dr Syed said human remains recovered from the building were also undergoing forensic examination.

One victim, 33-year-old Misbah, was identified with the help of a locket. Her body will be handed over to her family shortly. Four other members of her family are still missing.

Sources said rescue work was progressing slowly due to a shortage of required resources, as teams navigated debris, smoke and unstable sections of the building.

The fire broke out at around 10.00 p.m. on Saturday on the ground floor of Gul Plaza, located in Karachi’s busy M.A. Jinnah Road, and rapidly spread across the building.

Thick smoke engulfed the structure, trapping an unknown number of people inside.

Officials said approximately 1,200 shops were housed in the plaza, and nearly 40 per cent of the building has collapsed, while the remaining structure has been declared unsafe.

Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab visited the site late Monday night and said the fire had been brought under control and cooling operations completed.

He said a brief flare-up occurred again in the basement overnight but was quickly contained.

“All departments of the city administration are on alert. The rescue operation will not end until all missing persons are accounted for,” he said, adding that goods inside the building would be removed and a final report submitted to the chief minister.

At the provincial level, the Sindh government has announced compensation of Rs10 million for each family of those who died in the incident.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has assured affected shopkeepers of alternative arrangements and ordered a formal investigation into the fire.

An inquiry committee formed on the chief minister’s instructions, headed by Karachi Commissioner Hasan Naqvi, held its first meeting on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by Additional Inspector General Azad Khan and the chief fire officer.

The committee decided to immediately begin collecting data related to the incident and recording statements, with its findings to be submitted to the chief minister.

Separately, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said he would approach the Karachi mayor to arrange the temporary relocation of affected traders to the parking plaza.

He also announced plans to write to the federal government seeking a refund of 10 years’ worth of taxes paid by Gul Plaza.

District administration officials said the confirmed number of missing persons stands at 85, while search teams continue to comb the damaged floors amid persistent safety concerns.