School roof collapse kills teacher and at least 17 children in northwest Pakistan
At least 21 children and a teacher were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed on Thursday in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. More than three dozen other people were injured, with some reported to be in critical condition.
Emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said several children remained trapped beneath the rubble as rescue teams worked to remove debris and reach them. Hospital official Mohammad Asim confirmed the casualties. The toll may therefore change as the rescue operation continues.
The disaster follows another fatal collapse in July, when the roof of a tutoring centre under construction in Lahore fell, killing four schoolchildren. Such incidents are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often weakly enforced. Buildings may be made with substandard materials, while safety regulations are frequently disregarded to reduce costs, leaving schools and other structures particularly vulnerable.
Continue in the app — vote & join in ➔