A fire at a shopping centre in Pakistan has killed at least three people and injured several others.

The blaze swept through the multi-storey Gul Plaza in the country's largest southern city of Karachi shortly after 10pm local time (5pm UK time) on Saturday, officials said.

TV footage showed firefighters battling flames in protective clothing, while several fire engines with ladders and water cannon were used to douse the building.

Most shop owners were either closing up or had already left the centre when the fire broke out, according to local media.

No official cause of the fire has been determined, but authorities said flames spread rapidly after starting in an area where shopkeepers had stored imported garments, clothing and plastic household goods, which helped fuel the flames.

Thick black smoke was shown billowing from numerous floors of the shopping centre. The smoke was visible from several streets away, according to a reporter from the Associated Press.

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Most buildings in Karachi, and other parts of the country, lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often results in damages and casualties.

In November 2023, 10 people were killed and 22 were injured in a fire at another shopping centre in the city.