ISLAMABAD — A large fire has broken out at the Centaurus Mall in the center of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Images on social media showed a huge plume of smoke emanating from the building, with some footage showing flames inside and outside the building.
They also showed people trying to leave the building.
Police say all people in the mall were evacuated safely. Efforts were under way to put out the fire, which was said to be spreading to other floors.
The fire was brought under control after two hours, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) confirmed.
CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner retired Capt. Mohammad Usman Younis said the fire brigade, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force and Rescue 1122 took part in the firefighting operation.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said the mall and its allied residential towers were now being sealed till a technical team reported on their structural capability after the fire.
He thanked the relevant institutions, which had helped in bringing the fire under control.
Footage broadcast on television showed plumes of smoke billowing from the building, while in other clips people could be seen trying to escape using the mall’s escalators.
The police said that a helicopter had been called up as well to aid in the rescue and firefighting operation.
They added that the fire inside the mall was “under control” and no shop was damaged albeit there were still some flames on the mall’s exterior, which were being extinguished.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and said he had ordered relevant institutions and authorities to take immediate action.
“It is very unfortunate that this incident happened in this well-known business center. I pray that there is no loss of life. Condolences and sympathies for the financial losses of the victims,” he tweeted.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah also took notice of the incident and ordered the Islamabad administration and fire brigade to use all resources at their disposal to control the fire.
“The facility of helicopter from the relevant departments should also be used to extinguish the fire,” he ordered, further directing that the reasons for the fire should be examined so those responsible could be determined.
The interior minister instructed that a detailed report of the fire should be submitted to the Ministry of Interior.
The CDA said most of the affected area was undergoing the cooling process and the rest would be controlled soon as well. – Agencies