Fourteen children died after the roof of a building near Lahore collapsed on top of them.
The collapse occurred inside a private tuition centre in the Kahna suburb of the Pakistani city, where young children under ten were studying. Rescue teams from Rescue 1122 were dispatched at 4:45 p.m. local time and finished the operation within an hour.
Seven to eleven year old survivors were returned to the scene, while five others have been reported injured. Building inspectors noted that the roof was in poor condition, with tiles undergoing repair at the time of the collapse.
Authorities announced an investigation and have charged two individuals, citing unsafe structural conditions as the likely cause. Initial inquiries focus on construction oversight and maintenance records.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif both issued statements offering condolences and pledging legal accountability for those responsible.
