Peshawar: Roof collapse at private school kills 21 children and one teacher
Rescuers say children remain trapped under the rubble after the October 15, 2026 collapse in Peshawar.
At least 21 children and one teacher were killed after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, in north‑west Pakistan, on October 15, 2026. More than 20 pupils were also injured, local emergency services said.
Rescuers and residents worked at the scene to reach victims trapped beneath the debris. Emergency services spokesperson Bilal Faizi said, "There are still children trapped under the rubble." Rescue teams continued searching the wreckage for survivors.
The exact cause of the collapse has not been established and authorities said investigations were under way. Emergency crews focused on pulling injured children from the site and taking them to nearby hospitals.
The accident follows a July incident in Lahore, when the roof of a learning centre under construction collapsed and killed four pupils.
Building collapses are a frequent hazard in Pakistan, officials and experts say, often linked to poor enforcement of construction standards, the use of substandard materials and shortcuts taken to reduce costs.
Local authorities have appealed for calm while rescue and recovery operations proceed, and have pledged to investigate safety practices at private educational facilities in the wake of the disaster.
Photo: press material from the event
