Pakistan School Collapse Kills Dozens

A roof collapse at the private Al-Khair school in Peshawar brought down classroom ceilings while classes were in session. The collapse killed at least 34 children and a teacher, according to the Associated Press, and injured more than 50 people. Building collapses are a recurring problem in Pakistan, where construction rules are often weakly enforced and substandard materials are used. The school’s owner was arrested after the collapse. The children killed or hurt were mostly 13 or younger, and the school reportedly enrolled about 1,200 students. The provincial governor ordered a structural safety audit of schools. Police chief Mian Saeed called the building weak, but authorities had not confirmed the cause and ordered an investigation.