Pakistan school roof collapse kills 28 as rescuers search rubble

At least 28 people died when the roof of a private school collapsed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday. Among the victims were 27 students and one female teacher. Rescue workers were searching through the rubble for survivors according to officials.

The incident happened at the Al-Khair Education Centre in Peshawar the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Hospital officials said most of the children who died were than 13 years old.

District emergency officer Iftikhar Khan told Reuters that least 45 children had been rescued so far. He said some students were still believed to be trapped under the debris.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar said some of the injured were in serious condition. The hospital declared an emergency to handle the number of casualties.

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said the building had a structure. He added that the weight of the roof might have played a role in the collapse. Authorities have ordered an investigation into what caused the disaster. School officials did not immediately comment.

The disaster has renewed concerns about building safety and the enforcement of construction standards in Pakistan, where structural collapses have caused fatalities in recent years.