Authorities in Peshawar, north-western Pakistan, have confirmed that at least 28 people—comprising 27 students and one teacher—lost their lives when a school roof caved in during classes.
Most of the students killed were under the age of 13, while officials warned that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continued.
Most of the victims were brought dead to Lady Reading Hospital, alongside 20 injured people, hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim said.
The collapse occurred at the private Al-Khair Education Center in Dir Colony. Rescue teams were working to recover bodies and transport injured students to hospitals, government official Bilal Faizi said.
According to a rescue official, the roof of an upper floor collapsed onto the first-floor roof, which then gave way, trapping students inside their classrooms.
Television footage showed ambulances arriving at the scene as rescue workers pulled bloodied children from the debris.
District emergency officer Iftikhar Khan said rescuers had recovered at least 45 children from the rubble, adding that more students were believed to remain trapped.
What You Should Know
A tragic accident occurred at the Al-Khair Education Center in Peshawar when an upper-floor roof collapsed onto the floor below, trapping many young students in their classrooms. Most of the victims identified so far were under the age of 13.
- Infrastructure Safety: This event highlights the critical risks of poorly maintained or unregulated school buildings, which can lead to sudden, fatal structural failures.
- Ongoing Rescue Efforts: While 45 children have been pulled from the debris, emergency teams are still working on-site, meaning the number of casualties could unfortunately increase.
- Impact on Families: For the local community, this is a devastating loss of life that will likely lead to stricter scrutiny of building codes for private schools in the region.
