World

Pakistan hotel fire traps guests, killing 11

19:06 pm on 5 December 2016

At least 11 people have been killed in a fire at a luxury hotel in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

Injured guests walk around outside the hotel. Photo: AFP

The fire broke out in a ground-floor kitchen of the Regent Plaza and trapped guests in the upper floors, English-language newspaper Dawn reported.

The hotel has more than 400 rooms.

Video footage shows some guests using a chain of bedsheets to climb down from windows high up in the building.

Guests and emergency services stand around outside the Regent Plaza Hotel after the fire. Photo: AFP

Citing a senior doctor at the city's biggest hospital, Dawn reported at least 65 people were injured.

It was not clear if any of the victims were foreign tourists.

A Reuters cameraman said the fire had been contained by 9.30am.

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar told reporters the cause of the fire was uncertain.

- Reuters

Firefighters look from a room of the Regent Plaza Hotel in Karachi after the fire was extinguished. Photo: AFP