South Asia News
Death toll in Pakistani building collapse rises to 17
Feb 7, 2012, 5:33 GMT
Islamabad - The death toll rose to 17 Tuesday from the collapse of a factory building in Pakistan, while dozens more were still believed to be trapped under the rubble, rescue officials said.
The three-storey building fell down on Monday morning after an explosion in a boiler at the factory located in a residential area of the eastern city of Lahore.
'So far we have pulled 17 dead bodies and 14 injured,' said Raza Malik, an official at the state-run rescue service. 'Ten women and four children are among the dead.'
Malik said officials believed two dozen more people were trapped or killed under the rubble.
Rescue work was proceeding slowly might continue for 48 more hours, he added.
'We are not using heavy machinery to search through the rubble since it can hurt those people who might be still alive.'
Officials said the factory produced veterinary pharmaceuticals and was operating illegally in a residential area.
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