Pakistan factory blast in Faisalabad kills 13, including children

A devastating boiler explosion at a glue-manufacturing factory in Faisalabad’s Malikpur area killed at least 13 people, including three children and two women, authorities said, as nearby homes were damaged and the search for the factory owner intensified.

Rescue teams reported that the blast, which triggered a fire inside the factory, also damaged around 10 surrounding houses, Caliber.Az reports, citing Pakistani media.

Windows were shattered, walls cracked, and debris littered the narrow lanes of the densely populated industrial-residential neighbourhood.

“Four children and two women were among those killed, including a young girl whose body was recovered from the rubble,” said local rescue officials.

Several other residents were injured as the shockwave rattled the area, sending families fleeing in panic.

Firefighting efforts were complicated by the presence of chemicals in the factory, with 15 fire tankers deployed to bring the blaze under control.

Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir told reporters the factory was roughly 25 years old and that over time, residential housing had expanded around the site. He noted the area hosts around 100 factories, underscoring the safety challenges in densely built industrial settlements.

Authorities have launched a search for the factory owner. “Preliminary investigations indicate the explosion originated from the factory’s boiler, but a full inquiry is underway to determine any negligence or violations of safety regulations,” Nasir said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev