School roof collapse kills teacher and at least 27 children in northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - On Thursday, the roof of a private school in northwestern Pakistan collapsed, resulting in at least 27 child fatalities, including a female teacher, and over 30 injuries, according to a hospital spokesperson. Rescue efforts in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, are ongoing as rescuers continue to search the rubble for survivors.

Several children remain trapped under the debris, reported Bilal Faizi, an emergency services spokesman. Mohammad Asim, a hospital official, confirmed the casualties, noting that many of the injured are in critical condition. All victims were aged 13 or younger, he added. The hospital declared an emergency and medical staff were working to treat the wounded.

Rescue teams stated they were diligently removing debris to access those trapped under the rubble. Witnesses stated that residents were among the first to arrive at the school in a densely populated area of central Peshawar, with rescue workers arriving shortly after. Mohammad Khan, a local resident, described how rescuers methodically cleared the rubble, striving to reach the children and staff.