Factory Collapses in Pakistan, Five Dead and Dozens Still Trapped in Debris
A factory in Lahore, Pakistan has collapsed after an explosion rocked the area. There are at least 18 people dead and an emergency official at the scene said that dozens are trapped in the debris. Two houses next to the factory were also destroyed. The cause of the explosion is believed to have a gas leak.
Karamat Ali, who is a spokesman for Rescue 1122, a government emergency service, said a ten year old boy was among the dead. So far, rescuers have pulled 13 survivors from the collapsed building. Most of the people who are still trapped under three stories of debris are between the ages of 14 and 23. The factory produces medical supplies for veterinarians. There are reports that 17 women and young girls were inside the building when it collapsed. The death toll from the disaster is expected to rise
One eight year old child – who worked as a laborer in the factory – said that two boys were next to him when the explosion happened. He knows that the boys started to run, but he doesn’t know if they made it out or not.
Ahad Cheema, who is an official with the city of Lahore, gave a statement to reporters, saying that the factory was supposed to have been shut down. He does not know why it was still operational. There was no information given as to why the factory was supposed to have been closed and sealed.
Rescuers are moving pieces of debris by hand. The streets are so narrow in the area of the explosion that it is almost impossible to get heavy equipment in to assist in moving larger pieces of rubble. The rescuers are looking for survivors in areas where there may be voids in the piles of debris.
The regulations governing buildings and factories are not often enforced in Pakistan. As a result, there are incidents such as this one several times a year across the country.
