AMABAD, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) - The death toll from the Gul Plaza shopping mall fire in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi has risen to 67, officials said Thursday, after post-mortem examinations of all victims were completed.

Rescue personnel clear debris of a shopping mall in Karachi on January 22, 2026, after a massive fire broke out on January 17. (Photo: AFP)

Chief Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed Tariq said that on the fifth day since the incident, a total of 67 remains had been processed. Of these, six were identified through facial recognition, one through ID card or partial facial identification and eight via DNA testing.

A spokesperson for the Sindh health department confirmed the completion of post-mortem examinations for all 67 victims.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Hassaanul Haseeb Khan told Xinhua that urban search and rescue teams were using advanced equipment, including thermal imaging cameras, locators and specialized search units to locate victims under debris.

"The cameras detected heat up to 1,200 degrees Celcius. However, the actual temperature inside the shopping mall was even higher, which affected the condition of the victims' remains," he said, adding that cooling operations have been ongoing for the past three days.

He noted that the building's dilapidated structure required authorities to exercise extreme caution during search operations, making the rescue effort particularly challenging.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, which broke out last week and quickly swept through the multi-storey complex. Efforts are ongoing to trace any missing persons.

Officials said the investigation will review all aspects of the incident, including compliance with fire safety regulations and building management practices.