The tragedy occurred Thursday at Al-Khair Education Centre in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

According to local authorities, the victims were trapped beneath the rubble when the roof suddenly collapsed, prompting a major emergency response involving rescue teams and medical personnel.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, confirmed the death toll and said several of the injured were in critical condition.

He added that all the children killed or injured in the incident were aged 13 or younger.

The hospital declared an emergency as doctors and medical staff worked to treat the large number of casualties.

Rescue operations continued for several hours following the collapse, with emergency workers searching through the debris for survivors.

Authorities later confirmed that everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been recovered.

Reporting from Islamabad, Al Jazeera correspondent Kamal Hyder said the school had approximately 350 registered students.

He warned that the death toll could increase because several injured children remained in serious condition.

“The casualties are likely to rise. Dozens of wounded students are in hospital. Some of them are in a serious condition,” Hyder reported.

The cause of the roof collapse has not yet been established, and authorities have ordered an investigation to determine what led to the disaster.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, describing the deaths of the children as a national tragedy.

“Our children are our most precious asset, and every such loss is a tragedy for the entire country. My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with the bereaved families,” Dar wrote on X.

He also confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal government were closely monitoring the situation.

“The prime minister and the government have taken serious note of the situation. Ensuring the safety and protection of our children must remain paramount,” he added.

The incident has raised urgent concerns about school building safety as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

Meanwhile, families and members of the local community are mourning the victims, while medical teams continue treating the injured.

Authorities have not yet announced when the investigation will be completed or whether any individuals or organizations will face responsibility for the disaster.