A fire at a shopping centre in the Pakistan city of Karachi has killed six people as firefighters continue to battle the blaze. Parts of the Gul Plaza, containing 1,200 stores and spanning 8,000 sq m (86,111 sq ft), have collapsed which officers said was hampering rescue efforts. One firefighter is among the dead, more than 20 people have been injured and there are fears some are still trapped inside the multi-storey mall. Local emergency services stated that helpers arriving at the site found the fire had spread from the ground floor to the upper floors, engulfing almost the entire building in flames. Smoke was still billowing from the remains of the Gul Plaza building on Sunday morning. Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Karachi, noted the shopping centre contained flammable materials such as plastic foam, cloth, carpets and perfume. Currently, 20 fire engines are involved in controlling the fire amid fears of further structural collapse. Summaiya Syed, Karachi's police surgeon, reported that six bodies had been transferred to the city's Civil Hospital along with some injured. She further mentioned that police were invoking mass disaster protocols. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and directed the Sindh provincial government to conduct a comprehensive review of safety arrangements in commercial and residential buildings across the region.