Death toll in the fire at Karachi’s Regent Plaza Hotel went up to 12 as another body was recovered from the building, Geo TV reported on Tuesday. At least 110 were injured and are being treated at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. The fire began in the kitchen of the hotel at 3am on Monday, before spreading through the entire building, reported Dawn.
Many people were severely injured in a stampede triggered by the fire, reported Samaa TV. Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar had told reporters on Monday that there were no fire exits or fire alarms in the hotel. However, the hotel management said appropriate fire fighting equipment was present in the hotel. A hotel employee died while helping visitors get out through the fire exit. Investigators said they have not ruled out a terror angle in the incident. The police will submit a final report soon.
According to Reuters, some hotel guests had to use bedsheets to climb down from building windows from top floors. Chief Fire Officer said that most people died due to suffocation.
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