At least 19 people, including 18 pupils and a teacher, have died after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, north-western Pakistan.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning while lessons were underway, leaving about 40 others injured. Some of the injured were reportedly in critical condition. Rescue workers continued searching the rubble for children believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
According to Mohammad Asim, spokesperson for Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, all the pupils who died were under the age of 13. The collapse has raised concerns about the safety of school buildings and the risks facing children in classrooms across the country.
Authorities have yet to provide further details about what caused the roof to give way. The extent of the damage and the full number of people affected may become clearer as rescue operations continue.
The incident adds to concerns over building safety in Pakistan, where structural failures can have devastating consequences, particularly in crowded public facilities. Emergency responders are working to locate anyone who may remain trapped and provide medical assistance to survivors.
