Factory roof collapse in Pakistan kills 17, up to 200 trapped

LAHORE, Pakistan, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The roof of a shopping bag factory near the Pakistani city of Lahore collapsed Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and trapping up to 200.

At least 70 people were injured in the factory at the Sundar Industrial Estate. Several bodies were recovered from the rubble. The factory is about 18 miles away from Lahore.

Construction to build a third floor above the two operational floors was underway at the time of the collapse. The factory was previously declared a dangerous site, Geo News reported. Cries for help can be heard coming from underneath the rubble.

Children are believed to have been working, but that has not been officially confirmed. About 200 workers are thought to have been in the structure when it collapsed, Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman for the rescue services said.

Hussain told the BBC 98 survivors had been pulled out and taken to the hospital, but he said it was difficult to determine exactly how many people are still trapped because the owner and members of the management of the business are among those in the building.