At least nine people have been killed and many more injured after a three-story building housing a factory collapsed in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, media reports citing local officials said Monday.
Children and women were reportedly among those killed in the incident, which authorities have blamed on a gas explosion. The building that collapsed is said to have housed a factory illegally manufacturing veterinary medicines.
While at least eleven people were pulled out of the debris alive by rescue teams, many more trapped under the rubble managed to escape on their own. Search operations are continuing for any possible survivors and bodies. Many are still believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Local residents said children below the legal working age of 16 were employed at the 25-year-old factory, located at a residential area of the city. At least 60 people, including children and women, were working inside the factory when it collapsed.
Police believe that the building collapsed after several gas cylinders stored inside exploded. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, which happened early on Monday morning as workers were arriving at the factory for work.
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