Muhammed Amin is beside himself with grief and despair.
His brother, Naveed Memon, was inside Gul Plaza when a massive fire ripped through the densely-packed shopping centre in Pakistan's commercial capital, Karachi. Like dozens of others, he still hasn't been found.
What should I tell my mother when I go home? What should I tell my nieces? asks Amin.
My nieces are crying for their father - they are asking me why he is late to come home. What should I tell them? How can I tell them that their father is gone?
Housing an estimated 1,200 shops across a basement, mezzanine and three floors, Gul Plaza was a wholesale market that offered a wide range of products, frequented by residents, particularly before festivals and weddings.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, but witnesses report that it spread rapidly, exacerbated by locked exits and the dense crowds within the building.
Rehan Faisal, who owned a bedsheet shop, escaped through a nearby exit, recalling that staff initially dismissed the fire's seriousness, only to see it escalate alarmingly within minutes.
Shoiab, a 19-year-old who worked in a decorations shop, noted the confusion and panic as shoppers attempted to flee the mall, many facing locked doors.
Rescue efforts are hampered by the unstable structure of Gul Plaza, now feared to be at risk of collapse. The confirmed death toll stands at 27, with over 70 people still missing.
Crowds gather near the site, desperate for news of missing loved ones, while some residents express anger at the speed of emergency response. Investigations are underway, but many are left wondering how such a tragedy could happen again.
