The number of deceased from the collapse of a school roof in the Pakistani city of Peshawar has risen to nearly 30, according to the latest update from the authorities. For the moment, the exact causes of the incident are unknown, which has also resulted in several critically injured.
The spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, Muhamad Asim, has indicated that so far 28 deaths have been confirmed, including 27 students and one teacher, and has detailed that another 19 people have been injured, as reported by the Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn'.
For his part, the deputy commissioner of Peshawar, Afaq Uazir, has explained to the television network Geo TV that the search and rescue operations at the school premises have concluded, once "all the debris has been removed." "There are no more injured children at the site," he stated.
Hours earlier, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, had placed the number of deceased minors at 17 and had lamented "the tragic loss of life" caused by the collapse. He also conveyed his "sincere condolences" to the families of the victims.
Dar emphasized that the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, is closely following the evolution of the case and stressed that "ensuring the safety and protection of children must remain an absolute priority," according to a message disseminated on social media.
"It is necessary to adopt all necessary measures to provide immediate assistance to those affected, ensure the best possible medical care for the injured, and reinforce safety standards in our schools, with the aim of preventing tragedies like this from happening again," he concluded.