School roof collapse in Peshawar, Pakistan, results in multiple fatalities

At least 27 students and one teacher were killed on Thursday when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. All of the children involved in the incident were aged 13 or younger. In addition to the fatalities, more than three dozen people sustained injuries, with some reported to be in critical condition.

Emergency services and local residents responded to the scene in a congested neighborhood of central Peshawar shortly after the collapse. Rescuers worked to remove debris to reach individuals who remained trapped beneath the rubble. While some victims died at the scene, many others were transported to the Lady Reading Hospital, which declared an emergency to manage the influx of wounded patients.

Outside the school and at the hospital, parents gathered to seek information regarding the status of their children. Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the emergency services, confirmed that search and rescue operations continued as teams attempted to locate those still buried under the collapsed structure.

The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation. Peshawar police chief Saeed Ahmed stated that the building was structurally weak and confirmed that the owner of the school has been arrested. While reports from some outlets initially cited a lower death toll of 17 students, subsequent reports from hospital and emergency spokespeople have confirmed that at least 27 students lost their lives in the incident.