Entertainment
Karachi reports 225 fire outbreaks in January alone
- Fire incidents expose serious gaps in safety preparedness.
- More than 20 fire incidents reported in February so far.
- Deadliest incident of Gul Plaza fire occurred on Jan 17.
The memory of the deadly Gul Plaza fire still haunts Karachi, a stark reminder of how devastating fires can be in the city. But fire incidents still continue unabated, exposing serious gaps in safety and emergency preparedness.
Alarmingly, this January alone, Karachi reported 225 fire incidents, leaving destruction, injuries and loss of lives in their wake, The News reported on Saturday.
The trend has continued into February, with more than 20 fire incidents reported in just the first five days, showing that the city remains at constant risk.
Authorities warn that unless stricter safety measures are implemented and public awareness is raised, Karachi’s residents will continue to face daily threats from both major and minor fire incidents — a danger that cannot be ignored.
On Thursday alone, fire incidents were reported at six different locations in various parts of the city. While no human casualties were reported in these incidents, two animals — a cow and a buffalo — suffered burn injuries.
The deadliest incident had occurred on January 17, when an inferno at the Gul Plaza killed 79 people, including women and children, and left at least 22 others injured, according to official figures.
Since then, no major fire disaster of a similar scale has been reported. However, small-scale fires continue to erupt on a daily basis, with as many as five to six incidents sometimes being reported in a single day.
Four more people, including a child and an elderly man, also lost their lives in separate fire incidents last month. Alongside the loss of lives, countless others are grappling with property damage and financial ruin, painting a grim picture of the persistent danger fires pose to Karachi’s residents.
People often focus only on the Gul Plaza fire, the lives lost in it and the devastation it caused. But while such large-scale tragedies are rare, smaller fire incidents continue to occur on a daily basis across the city. These are not just statistics. People are losing their lives and suffering financial losses every day.
Among other notable incidents, a man died in Landhi on January 1 after being burnt by a fire lit to keep warm during the cold weather. On January 26, in Malir’s Khokhrapar area, a fire broke out at a privately run school operating inside a house, resulting in the death of a minor and injuries to another. Other students were rescued in time.
Another fatal fire occurred in Gulistan-e-Jauhar on January 28. A separate fire incident in Orangi Town also claimed one life. Several others suffered injuries in incidents reported at Hawkesbay and in Korangi, and near the Met Office area.
Data shows that District Central reported 30, the highest number of fires, in January. Saddar reported 18 incidents, while another 18 occurred within the jurisdiction of the Sohrab Goth–Gulistan-e-Mustafa fire station.
Nazimabad reported 13 incidents, SITE Area 11, and Lyari and Korangi nine each. Landhi reported three incidents, while Orangi Town and Shah Faisal Colony reported eight each. Manzoor Colony reported 14 incidents, and areas covered by the New Karachi fire station reported 13.
On Thursday, fires were reported at multiple locations, including a plastic warehouse near Nauman Kanta on Sher Shah Akbar Road, where the fire repeatedly reignited due to Thermocol. Firefighters used heavy machinery under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner Nida Saman to demolish walls and complete cooling operations.
Other incidents included a fire on the roof of a private bank near the Sultan Hospital in Korangi No. 4, a fire in chemical-filled drums at a perfume factory in Mehran Town, a cattle shed fire in Malir’s Khurramabad area, a fire at a gym in Federal B Area, and a fire at a K-Electric junction near the Fatima Tower in New Karachi Industrial Area. All the fires were brought under control without any human casualties.
Authorities have expressed concern over the rising frequency of fire incidents, and stressed the urgent need for stricter safety measures, regular inspections and greater public awareness to prevent more tragedies.
Swifties are buzzing with the major announcement made by The Life of a Showgirl singer Taylor Swift on February 6, 2026.
Taylor Swift selected one of her fiancé’s go-to tracks from ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ to be her next music video from the album.
On February 6, the singer dropped a music video for ‘Opalite,’ a song her fiancé, Chiefs tight end, previously had spoken glowingly of during his appearance on the ‘New Heights’ podcast.
“I think ‘Opalite’ might be my favorite, though, at least right now. Every time it comes on, I always catch myself,” shared Travis Kelce last August on the podcast show New Heights.
If you’re a die-hard Swiftie and anxiously waiting to stream Swift’s latest creative piece, the Opalite music video, don’t worry, we got you covered.
Where to watch Opalite’ music video ahead of its YouTube release?
As of February 7, Swifties can stream the Opalite official visual in one of two ways: either on Spotify or on Apple Music. When Is ‘Opalite’ on YouTube?
As for those waiting for its release on the most popular streaming platform, YouTube, it is arriving this Super Bowl Sunday, February 8, at 8 a.m. ET.
In a latest Instagram post, Swift spilled the beans on how she came up with the idea of Opalite.
She posted a lengthy synopsis, writing, “For those of you who aren’t familiar, it’s a UK late-night show where Graham Norton invites a random group of actors, entertainers, musicians, etc., to be on his show, and we all sit there and chat like it’s a dinner party.
“They even served wine. Anyway. I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with.
Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, @JodieSmith, and Lewis Capaldi. All people whose work I’ve admired from afar.”
For the unversed, Swift previously released a music video for The Fate of Ophelia, launching in tandem with the album.
Like Samsung’s next Galaxy S26 series, Apple, too, has started appearing in the limelight, with a fresh report indicating that the iPhone 17e might launch later in February.
A report from Macwelt, citing industry sources, noted that the device, iPhone 17e, is expected to be announced via a press release on February 19.
This iPhone 17e release timeline aligns with Apple’s previous launch pattern, as the iPhone maker introduced the iPhone 16e in the same month last year.
Another report was spotted validating this claim. Referencing sources, it suggested that the iPhone 17e will feature a design similar to its predecessor, the iPhone 16e.
iPhone 17e specs (expected)
The upcoming iPhone 17e is expected to borrow a notch from the iPhone 16e, rather than adopting the Dynamic Island feature found in other recent iPhone models.
iPhone 17e’s hardware and connectivity features
According to Macwelt, the iPhone 17e will support MagSafe and offer wireless charging speeds of up to 25 watts. Mac Otakara, a Japanese tipster, reported that the phone will be powered by Apple’s A19 chipset and is also anticipated to include the second-generation Apple C1X modem and the N1 wireless network chip.
Notable hardware components of the iPhone 17e could reportedly remain similar to those of the iPhone 16e, ensuring a familiar experience for users upgrading from the previous model.
The report also mentioned an upcoming Apple tablet, speculating that the next iPad 12 will utilise the A18 chip, rather than coming with the A19 processor, which was previously speculated.
Taylor Swift has shifted the conversation back to her music, and fans are clearly here for it.
The singer dropped the much-anticipated music video for Opalite this week, and reactions online suggest it’s already becoming one of the most talked-about visuals from The Life of a Showgirl era.
The video, written and directed by Swift herself, arrived just ahead of Super Bowl weekend and leans heavily into playful nostalgia.
Fans’ reactions to Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ music video
Packed with a ’90s aesthetic, celebrity cameos and self-aware humour, Opalite has prompted an outpouring of fan responses praising both its creativity and its light-hearted tone.
On Reddit’s “popheads” forum, one fan summed up the mood by writing, “This was HILARIOUS! I actually laughed while watching. Brought me some joy today.”
Another added, “Dare I say this is probably her best video so far?”
Others were quick to point out the cast, with one comment reading, “I did not expect to see a Lewis Capaldi and Cillian Murphy cameo. Also the music video is very fun and Taylor looks like she’s having fun in the music video.”
Much of the excitement centres on the fact that nearly everyone featured in the video appeared alongside Swift during her October 2025 guest spot on The Graham Norton Show.
Swift later explained that the idea came to her during that appearance, calling the setting “one of my favourite shows.”
In an Instagram post, she wrote, “The idea for the Opalite music video crash landed into my imagination when I was doing promo for The Life of a Showgirl.”
She went on to describe how Domhnall Gleeson joking about appearing in one of her videos sparked the concept.
“I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with … I was instantly struck with an idea,” Swift shared.
“And so a week later [Gleeson] received an email script I’d written for the Opalite video, where he was playing the starring role.”
Fans clearly loved discovering the connection.
One Reddit user wrote, “Jaw dropped once I realized halfway through the video that everyone she included was in her Graham Norton interview. Very fun 80s-style romp.”
Another commented on Norton’s cameo specifically, referencing the presenter’s on-screen moment by saying, “The ending bit from Graham Norton! Where he jokes ‘yeah I’m trying to be in Taylor’s next MV’ and she’s like.”
In the video, Swift plays a lonely character who befriends a pet rock, while Gleeson’s character forms a similarly strange bond with a cactus.
A fictional “Opalite spray” brings the characters together by magically transforming objects into people.
Graham Norton appears as a salesman promoting a reverse serum called “Nope-alite,” while Jodie Turner-Smith plays a fitness instructor, Greta Lee appears as a fictional MTV singer-songwriter, and Lewis Capaldi shows up as a shopping mall photographer. Cillian Murphy does not act on screen but appears as a billboard image and provides a voiceover.
Norton later shared his own excitement, posting online, “The thrill of a lifetime and the hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep!! Thank you thank you.”
Over on the “TaylorSwift” Reddit forum, fans echoed similar enthusiasm. One wrote, “She really knocked it out of the park with this video, bravo!”
Another added, “This is my favourite of her MVs so far.”
Several comments focused on Swift’s styling, with one fan admitting, “I didn’t recognize her with the brown hair at first,” while another praised the look, saying they loved how she leaned into her “hopeless romantic awkwardness.”
Others highlighted the technical choices, with a fan noting, “Love this video, so funny! Also love the aspect ratio choice which fits perfectly with the old 90s TV.”
Another reaction read, “Absolutely not what I was expecting at all but I LOVED it. So fun and I love how it was shot.”
Taylor Swift on ‘Opalite’ music video
Swift herself seemed to relish the experience. Reflecting on the process, she wrote, “I had more fun than I ever imagined – Made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.”
Opalite, which is about love and fittingly nods to opals, the birthstone of Swift’s fiancé Travis Kelce, had already reached No. 2 in the UK charts before the video’s release and is expected to climb again.
For now, the video is available exclusively on Apple Music and Spotify Premium, with a wider release on YouTube scheduled for Sunday.
Judging by fan reactions so far, Swift’s return to playful storytelling has landed exactly where she needed it to, and viewers are more than happy to come along for the ride.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ song lyrics
[Verse 1]
I had a bad habit
Of missing lovers past
My brother used to call it
“Eating out of the trash”
It’s never gonna last
I thought my house was haunted
I used to live with ghosts
And all the perfect couples
Said, “When you know, you know”
And, “When you don’t, you don’t”
[Pre-Chorus]
And all of the foes, and all of the friends (Ha, ha)
Have seen it before, they’ll see it again (Ha, ha)
Life is a song, it ends when it ends
I was wrong
[Chorus]
But my mama told me, “It’s alright
You were dancing through the lightning strikes
Sleepless in the onyx night
But now, the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
Never made no one like you bеfore
You had to make your own sunshine
But now, thе sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”
[Verse 2]
You couldn’t understand it
Why you felt alone
You were in it for real
She was in her phone
And you were just a pose
And don’t we try to love love? (Love, love)
We give it all we got (Give it all we got)
You finally left the table (Uh, uh)
And what a simple thought
You’re starving ’til you’re not
[Pre-Chorus]
And all of the foes, and all of the friends (Ha, ha)
Have messed up before, they’ll mess up again (Ha, ha)
Life is a song, it ends when it ends
You move on
[Chorus]
And that’s when I told you, “It’s alright
You were dancing through the lightning strikes
Sleepless in the onyx night
But now, the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
Never met no one like you before
You had to make your own sunshine
But now, the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh”
[Bridge]
This is just
A storm inside a teacup
But shelter here with me, my love
Thunder like a drum
This life will beat you up, up, up, up
This is just
A temporary speed bump
But failure brings you freedom
And I can bring you love, love, love, love (Love)
[Chorus]
Don’t you sweat it, baby, it’s alright
You were dancing through the lightning strikes
Oh, so sleepless in the onyx night
But now, the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, my Lord
Never met no one like you before (No)
You had to make your own sunshine
But now, the sky is opalite, oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
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How to watch Taylor Swift’s new ‘Opalite’ music video ahead of YouTube release
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