At least 35 killed in Pakistan school roof collapse
At least 34 students and one teacher were killed and more than 50 others injured after the roof of a school collapsed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday. The incident occurred at the privately run Al-Khair Education Center in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The school's principal and owner have been arrested.
The rescue operation continued for several hours. Regional Rescue Department Director Arif Khattak said dozens of bodies were recovered from the collapsed structure, including that of a female teacher.
The father of one injured student said the school building had been poorly constructed. He said the roof of the three-story building was weak and much of the structure rested on girders.
Provincial authorities have ordered a full investigation into the cause of the collapse. The tragedy has also renewed concerns about construction and safety standards at private educational institutions across the country. Authorities have called for broader inspections to help prevent similar incidents.
According to CCTV+, the investigation is expected to determine the cause of the collapse and whether safety requirements were violated during the construction or operation of the building.
