ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to perform the post-fire structure stability examination of all the high-rises in Islamabad after an incident of fire occurred in the iconic Centaurus Mall.
On Sunday, October 10 2022, fire that started at the 36-story Centaurus Mall on Jinnah Avenue in the heart of the city was put out after two hours, however the cooling process later lasted for more than an hour. The CDA has decided in a meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Captain (r) Muhammad Usman Younis, to conduct fire audit of all buildings with heights greater than 50 feet. The Authority also decided to evaluate high-rise structures using actual mock exercises and to upgrade emergency services response and outfit emergency disaster cells with cutting-edge technology.
Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Captain (R) Mohammad Usman Younis said that Firefighting efforts were assisted by the fire department, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force, and Rescue 1122. In order to aid the rescue operations and prevent the fire from spreading to additional stories of the structure, a helicopter crew was also sent. When a huge fire started in the food court on the fourth floor of the shopping center, hundreds of families were busy dining and shopping on various floors of the mall. Rescue teams used a back door to free persons trapped inside the mall before conducting an interior search. The fire was entirely contained, there were no casualties, and the building has been sealed off for more examination.
