At least 17 children and one teacher died Thursday when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, with rescue workers continuing to search the rubble for survivors.

The incident occurred at the Al Khair Education Center in the Dir Colony area of the northwestern city during morning classes. Officials said the collapse trapped students under debris from the two-story building.

Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim confirmed that most victims were under age 13 and that an emergency had been declared at the facility. Some of the injured were reported in critical condition.

Rescue teams from local emergency services pulled dozens of children from the site, with reports indicating that more than 40 people overall sustained injuries. Authorities noted that heavy rainfall may have contributed to the structural failure, though an investigation is underway.

Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir ordered a probe into the collapse, and police arrested the school owner. Building safety standards in Pakistan have long faced criticism for lax enforcement, leading to frequent structural incidents.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the tragedy and offered condolences to the families. Rescue operations remained active as of the latest updates, with fears that the death toll could rise further.