16 dead as building collapsed in Pakistan

At least 16 people were killed and 40 injured when a factory collapsed in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore Wednesday, the local administration chief told AFP, with around a hundred more still trapped.

"The rescue workers have so far retrieved 16 dead bodies while at least 40 injured have been taken to hospitals," Mohammad Usman said.

The incident took place at a polythene bag factory in the Sundar industrial estate, around 45 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of the city centre.

Jam Sajjad Hussain, a spokesman for the rescue services, said 100 people were still trapped, while ambulances were taking the injured to hospital.

"All our rescue workers are on site but it is such a big incident that we have called rescue workers from other nearby districts," he added.

The army meanwhile announced it was deploying specialist search teams and engineers to the factory.

Pakistan has a poor safety record in the construction and maintenance of buildings.

Last year, a mosque collapsed in the same city, killing at least 24 people.

More than 200 people lost their lives to collapsed roofs following torrential rainfall and flooding in 2014. 

Caption: Map for represaentation

Photo Credit: Al Jazeera