A tragic building collapse in Lahore, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of at least 14 schoolchildren after the roof of a tutoring center under construction gave way on Tuesday afternoon, according to police and emergency officials.

Rescue teams continued searching through the rubble amid concerns that additional children could still be trapped beneath the debris.

Roof Gives Way During Classes

Authorities said the tutoring center was operating inside an aging residential building where construction work was underway on an unfinished second floor.

According to senior police official Faisal Kamran, the roof of the partially completed upper level collapsed, sending debris crashing onto students below.

At least 14 children lost their lives, while eight others were injured and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police have arrested the owner of the tutoring center along with another individual as investigators begin examining the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Investigation Focuses on Construction Quality

Preliminary findings suggest poor construction quality may have contributed to the disaster.

Officials believe the unfinished second floor failed due to structural weaknesses, though a full investigation remains ongoing.

Authorities are continuing to determine whether building regulations or safety requirements were violated.

Rescue Effort Continues

Emergency responders rushed to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the collapse.

Search-and-rescue teams worked alongside local residents, many of whom joined the effort using shovels and even their bare hands to remove concrete and debris in hopes of reaching children trapped underneath.

Officials said the search continued for several hours after the incident as rescuers carefully cleared the damaged structure.

Community Devastated

Outside hospitals and throughout the neighborhood where the tutoring center was located, scenes of grief unfolded as families learned the fate of their children.

Parents broke down in tears while relatives gathered to comfort one another.

Most of the victims lived in nearby communities, and funeral prayers were expected later the same day.

Residents described the tragedy as one of the most devastating incidents the neighborhood has experienced in recent years.

Calls for Accountability

Alongside the grief, many local residents expressed anger over the condition of the building.

Community members accused the tutoring center’s operators of holding classes inside what they described as an unsafe structure and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.

Many mourners gathered outside the homes of the victims to offer condolences while also calling for stronger enforcement of building safety standards.

One local resident said it was heartbreaking to move from one grieving family to another, as so many households in the neighborhood had been affected.

Building Collapses Remain a Recurring Problem

Building collapses continue to occur in various parts of Pakistan, where construction standards are often criticized for being poorly enforced.

Experts have long warned that some structures are built with substandard materials or without fully complying with safety regulations, increasing the risk of accidents.

Authorities are expected to investigate whether negligence or construction violations contributed to Tuesday’s collapse.

National Leaders Express Condolences

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif released separate statements expressing sorrow over the loss of life.

Both leaders extended their condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured children.

They also emphasized the importance of improving building safety measures to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.

As rescue operations continue and investigators work to determine the exact cause of the collapse, the disaster has once again raised serious concerns about construction safety and oversight in Pakistan.

Source: edition.cnn