A massive fire that erupted at a departmental store in the upscale Clifton area of Karachi has continued to burn for more than 12 hours, with authorities yet to bring the blaze fully under control.

The fire broke out in the basement of a Zamzama-area store in the early hours of Monday, officials said. Despite a prolonged joint operation involving the fire brigade and multiple rescue agencies, flames continued to rage, posing significant challenges to firefighting efforts.

Rescue teams have begun breaking portions of the building’s walls to reduce heat intensity, release trapped smoke, and gain access to affected sections of the structure. Fire brigade officials said the scale and complexity of the fire mean it could take several more hours to fully extinguish.

Chief Fire Officer Humayun Khan said the fire brigade received the alert around 6:00 a.m. and dispatched fire tenders immediately from the Saddar station. He noted that the fire initially started in the basement but later spread to parts of the ground floor.

According to officials, the presence of a false ceiling allowed flames and smoke to spread rapidly, while poor ventilation caused smoke to accumulate inside the building, complicating rescue operations.

Authorities confirmed that no casualties have been reported and all individuals were safely evacuated.

Separately, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab said no one remains trapped inside and that firefighting efforts are being closely monitored.

Earlier, a separate fire incident at a nearby store in Clifton was quickly brought under control without injuries, highlighting ongoing concerns about fire safety in commercial buildings.

Officials said efforts remain focused on containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to adjacent structures, while city authorities continue fire safety audits to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.