The death toll from a fire at a shopping centre in Karachi has risen to at least 60, after at least 30 bodies were found in a single burned shop, Pakistani officials have said.

Search and recovery operations at Gul Plaza Shopping Centre continued on Thursday, with teams working to locate more than 80 people still missing from Saturday’s devastating blaze in the densely packed commercial complex, officials said.

At least 30 bodies were recovered from a mezzanine-floor shop, Karachi South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told the daily Dawn newspaper. He said the overall death toll was estimated at 61 following the latest discoveries, adding that the final figure would be confirmed after DNA analysis is completed.

The 30 bodies were located from the shop, “Dubai Crockery”, according to Karachi South Deputy Commissioner Javed Nabi Khoso.

He said the victims had locked themselves in the shop in a bid to protect themselves. Local media reported the victims had taken refuge inside the store after a stampede broke out in the mall during the early moments of Saturday’s fire.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed grief over the rising death toll and ordered that debris removal be halted until all bodies were retrieved, local media reported.

Teams were collecting samples from remains found in the complex for identification, as officials warned the toll could rise further.