Devastated families mourn children killed by Pakistan school roof collapse - Reuters

A roof collapse at the Al Khair Education Center in Peshawar, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of at least 34 children and one teacher on Thursday. The incident occurred at approximately 8:48 a.m. local time while classes were in session. Reports regarding the total number of fatalities have varied, with some initial accounts citing at least 30 deaths, while others confirm the death toll reached 34.

The collapse occurred when a roof on an upper floor gave way, falling onto classrooms located below and causing two stories of the building to crumble. According to rescue officials, the structure was unable to support the weight of ongoing construction work, which led to the failure of the building.

Emergency services launched a rescue operation that lasted more than four hours, involving nearly 100 personnel. All individuals trapped beneath the rubble have since been recovered. Medical staff at the Lady Reading Hospital declared an emergency to treat the victims, reporting that more than 50 people were wounded in the incident. Among the injured, three children remain in critical condition with head injuries.

The victims included children as young as six years old, as well as 12 female students and one female teacher. The hospital and emergency responders worked to stabilize the wounded as the site was cleared.

Peshawar police chief Saeed Ahmed confirmed that the school’s owner, Mohammad Khan, has been arrested. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the collapse, citing the building's structural weakness and the overloading of the roof as the primary causes of the disaster.