The Gul Plaza tragedy entered its seventh day on Friday as recovery, search and debris removal operations continued at the fire-ravaged commercial complex in Karachi, with authorities confirming 71 deaths while dozens of people remain missing.

Officials said human remains are still being recovered from the debris, particularly from the mezzanine level and parts of the ground floor, where authorities suspect further remains may be buried.

Search operations will continue until the remains of every missing person are recovered, officials said.

According to Police Surgeon Dr Samia, 71 bodies or sets of human remains have so far been shifted to hospitals.

She said the identities of 22 victims have been confirmed through DNA analysis, while DNA reports of 48 others are still awaited.

There is, however, a discrepancy in the number of missing persons.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has stated that 82 people are missing, while the South district administration’s complaint cell has put the figure at 88.

Officials said the inferno, which erupted on the night of January 17, took nearly two days to be fully extinguished.

The ground-plus-three-storey building has since collapsed in several sections, leaving the structure critically unstable.

Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso said nearly 80 per cent of the search operation has been completed, cautioning that the final death toll can only be determined once all recovered remains are identified.

Senior Fire Officer Zafar Khan said no intact bodies are now being recovered.

“Only bones are being found,” he said, adding that the operation has entered its final phase due to the dangerously weakened structure.

Gold and cash were found

Alongside human remains, valuables continue to be recovered from the rubble.

Sources said three safes containing a total of Rs140 million were found over the past seven days and handed over to the Deputy Commissioner South.

In addition, large quantities of both intact and burnt local and foreign currency, valued at around Rs10 million, were also recovered.

The Gul Plaza Action Committee had earlier informed authorities that access to two jewellery shops inside the plaza had not been possible.

Officials believe the gold may have melted and been carried along with debris to the KMC ground in Mewa Shah, where rubble has been dumped.

More than 50 police personnel have been deployed to guard the debris, with officials stating that melted or intact gold will be treated as recoverable property in either case.

DC South Javed Nabi Khoso later confirmed that 1.5 kilograms of gold, worth over Rs60 million, was recovered during debris removal and handed over to the shop owner.

Authorities said the entire building will be demolished, after which a detailed examination of the remaining debris will be carried out to ensure no human remains or valuables are left behind.

Scenes of grief continued at the site as families awaited word about missing relatives.

One affected citizen, Qaiser, said three women from his family — his wife, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law — had gone to Gul Plaza for shopping and never returned. He complained of a lack of clear information and alleged inappropriate behaviour by hospital staff, saying families were struggling to get answers.

Rescue officials said coordination between rescue teams, the district administration and health authorities remains ongoing as identification and documentation efforts continue, while families await confirmation of the fate of those still unaccounted for.