At least 32 children and one teacher were killed when a school roof collapsed during classes in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Thursday (15 October). Twenty others were injured, while authorities warned the death toll could rise as rescue operations continued.
The incident occurred at the private Al-Khair Education Center in Peshawar’s Dir Colony neighbourhood. Most of those killed were children under the age of 13, according to authorities.
Hospital Spokesperson Mohammad Asim said most of the victims were pronounced dead on arrival at Lady Reading Hospital, where 20 injured people were also taken for treatment.
“The fatalities include 12 girl students and a female teacher,” Asim said.
According to a rescue official, the roof of an upper floor collapsed onto the first-floor roof, causing it to give way and fall onto students attending classes below.
Television footage showed ambulances arriving at the scene as rescue workers pulled injured and bloodied students from the debris.
“We have so far taken out at least 45 children from the rubble,” district emergency officer Iftikhar Khan said.
He added that more children were feared to be trapped beneath the rubble as rescue operations continued.
The incident took place at 8:48 a.m. local time (0348 GMT) and the rescue operation lasted for four to five hours, Arif Khattak, Regional Director of the Rescue Department. said.
“It was a weak building structure,” Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said. “Its roof was overloaded with construction on a weak structure, which caused the collapse.”
Saeed said the school's owner had been arrested and authorities had opened an investigation.
Distraught relatives accused the school of ignoring concerns about the building's condition and demanded accountability.
“Make an example of them, a lesson for all, so that no one dares open a school just to make money without providing facilities,” said Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews in the collapse.
Earlier, police chief Saeed said he feared the death toll could rise as just 47 of the 110 students in three classrooms at the time had been rescued.
There was no immediate comment from school officials.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the tragedy and offered condolences to the victims' families, according to a statement from his office.
As oil prices surge amid conflict in the Gulf, energy leaders at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi are confronting two major challenges: securing global supplies...
Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned six days after a deadly high-speed train collision that killed at least 69 people, ...
North Korea fired multiple missiles into the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea's Defence Ministry said, in Pyongyang's fourt...
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
From a newsroom in Baku to audiences around the world, AnewZ marks two years of reporting, documentaries and digital journalism.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
A century-old collection of postcards is bringing the human stories behind Azerbaijan's oil boom to life in a new documentary produced by AnewZ in partnership with the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).
A new book examining Azerbaijan’s military strategy, technology and operations during the Garabagh wars has been unveiled in Baku, offering insights into the country’s victories and lessons for modern warfare.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Tajikistan has banned electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems, becoming the latest Central Asian country to outlaw their production, import and sale as part of a wider push to protect public health.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment