KARACHI — A massive fire swept through a multistory shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest southern city of Karachi late Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring around a dozen others, police and rescue officials said.

Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to Gul Plaza shortly after 10 p.m. local time following reports of the blaze.

Local media said most shop owners were closing their stores or had already left when the fire broke out and spread rapidly through the building.

Authorities said the fire erupted in an area where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household goods, which helped fuel the flames and accelerate their spread.

Television footage showed firefighters in protective gear battling the blaze using ladders, water cannons and hoses, as flames shot out of windows and balconies. Thick black smoke billowed into the night sky and was visible from several blocks away, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Police said an investigation would begin once the blaze was fully extinguished.

Officials noted that many buildings in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan lack adequate fire prevention and firefighting systems, often leading to extensive damage and casualties.

Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where deadly fires are relatively common. In November 2023, a blaze tore through another shopping mall in the city, killing 10 people and injuring 22 others. — Agencies