Pakistan School Roof Collapse Kills at Least 33
Dozens of students were among the victims when the roof of a school in Peshawar caved in, according to authorities.
The roof of a school in northwestern Pakistan collapsed Thursday, killing at least 33 people, including 32 students and one teacher, and injuring dozens more. Rescue personnel continued to search the rubble for children believed to be trapped.
The incident occurred in Peshawar, the capital of a northern province, according to Bilal Faizi, an emergency services spokesperson. Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, confirmed that all of the deceased children were 13 years old or younger, and that some of the injured were in critical condition.
Peshawar Police Chief Mian Saeed stated that 110 students were present at the school when the roof collapsed. Witnesses reported that residents were the first to arrive at the scene, followed by rescue teams who reached the school, located in a densely populated central area, within minutes.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse. Police indicated that the building was constructed with weak materials and was overloaded. The owner of the building has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.