School Roof Collapse in Pakistan's Peshawar Kills 18 Children and Teacher

At least 18 students and one teacher died when the roof of a private school gave way in Peshawar, in northwestern Pakistan, according to authorities cited by Breaking The News. The collapse was reported on Thursday. Every child killed was 13 years old or younger.

A local hospital said it had received at least 17 children for treatment following the incident. The condition of those patients was not immediately detailed. Emergency services were working at the site to clear the rubble.

Authorities said they feared further casualties could be found as the search of the debris continued. Rescue and recovery work remained underway Thursday, with the full number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse not yet confirmed.

The school was a private institution in Peshawar, the largest city in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. No cause for the roof's failure has been given in the accounts reported so far.