Lahore (TIP): Thirty-two children and a teacher were killed and dozens injured when the roof of a school in northern Pakistan collapsed on Thursday, Oct 15, morning, authorities said.
Heavy overnight rainfall caused the roof of a two-story building at Al Khair Public School in the city of Peshawar to become unstable and later collapse, Bilal Ahmed of the local rescue services told CNN.
The deceased children ranged in age from six to 14 years old, according to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, where the victims were taken. A 25-year-old woman is also listed among the fatalities.
Around 50 children were injured in the collapse, according to hospital figures. Several remain under medical observation. Video from the scene obtained by CNN showed ambulances rushing through narrow streets and crowds gathered outside the school building.
Local residents were among the first people to reach the scene, and rescue workers arrived within minutes, eyewitnesses said.
Rescue efforts stretched into Thursday afternoon, but later concluded after everyone trapped beneath the rubble was pulled out, according to emergency services.
Building collapses are a common problem in Pakistan. Construction standards in the country are often poorly enforced, and many structures are built with substandard materials.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said the incident was a “heart-wrenching tragedy” and called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the deadly collapse.
“In this hour of sorrow, the entire nation shares equally in the grief of the affected families,” the president’s office posted on X. Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif, the country’s prime minister, expressed his condolences following the tragic incident, saying “no parent should have to endure such pain.” “I have directed that the injured receive the best possible care,” Sharif said, while vowing to take “every necessary step” to protect the safety of school children.
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