The key facts

  • School roof collapse in Peshawar: 33–34 children and a teacher killed, about 50 injured
  • School owner arrested, investigation into building code violations launched
  • Authorities ordered safety inspections of all schools in the region

Collapse in Peshawar

On October 15, 2026, the roof of the private school 'Al-Khair' collapsed in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan. According to Reuters, 34 students of second and third grades were trapped under the rubble; among the dead was also one teacher. Another about 50 people were injured, some in serious condition. According to the hospital, all the killed and injured children were aged between 6 and 12.

Rescue Efforts

According to a rescue service representative, the roof of the third floor collapsed, bringing down the slab between the third and second floors, and both structures fell onto students in classrooms. Rescuers arrived at the scene within five minutes; search and rescue operations were completed within several hours. According to the Kun.uz agency citing emergency services, the incident occurred on Thursday morning, shortly after classes began. The school was located on a narrow street, which hampered rescuers' access and the evacuation of the injured; local residents pulled more than 20 children out of the rubble by hand.

Student Numbers and Causes

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said there were 110 students in the school. According to him, the school operated in a building with a weak structure. According to police, the building was built temporarily, with low-quality floor slabs that could not withstand the overload. The school owner has been arrested; according to Kun.uz, he blames the rain, which increased the load on the roof. An investigation into building code violations has been launched, and authorities ordered a safety audit of all schools in the region. Associated Press notes that building collapses in Pakistan happen frequently due to the use of substandard materials, but the current tragedy is the largest in the country's history. Local authorities announced the creation of a commission to investigate the causes.

Previous Tragedies

According to Kun.uz, in recent months a number of tragedies related to non-compliance with safety requirements have occurred in Pakistan: in June, the roof of a learning center collapsed near Lahore, killing 14 children; in August, a fire broke out in a hospital in Islamabad with the alarm not working, killing 14 infants.