KARACHI, Dec 9: A massive fire gutted the offices of two newspapers in Landmark Plaza on I.I. Chundrigar Road on Sunday night.

The fire, whose cause could not be ascertained immediately, broke out on the eight floor of the nine-storeyed Landmark Plaza which housed the offices of Balochistan Times and Daily Zamana around 9 pm. It also damaged some other offices on the floor.

Flames licked the interior of the building as the firebrigade took a while in throwing water by means of a snorkel at the already dying out fire from the rear.

When this reporter reached the site at around 10pm, the fire was fast gaining strength. As Edhi ambulances raced by, a large number of passersby gathered on I.I. Chundrigar Road, obstructing the flow of traffic.

Flames of various hues bellowed out of the windows as the windowpanes came tumbling down.

The firebrigade managed to put out the fire around 11.30pm. A fire officer said the real extent of the damage could be worked out tomorrow.

It may be recalled that on Aug 9 a fire destroyed the offices of the Investment Corporation of Pakistan on I.I. Chundrigar Road. On Nov 19, another fire gutted at least 150 shops in Karim Centre in Saddar.