FAISALABAD — At least 10 people were killed early Friday morning after a boiler exploded inside a factory near Malikpur, causing the collapse of the building and several nearby structures, Rescue 1122 officials confirmed.
Incident Details
In its initial statement, Rescue 1122 reported that the explosion occurred in Shahab Town, close to the Kabaddi Stadium, at around 5:28 am. The blast caused the roof of the factory — along with the roofs of adjacent houses to cave in. Rescue officials initially confirmed four deaths, but later stated that 17 individuals had been pulled out from under the rubble, of which 10 were found dead on the spot. Search efforts are still underway.
More than 20 ambulances, fire tenders, and specialized rescue teams are participating in the ongoing operation, supervised by the District Emergency Officer. Videos released by Rescue 1122 show personnel digging through collapsed concrete and debris as they search for survivors trapped under the rubble.
Police and Government Response
Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar issued directives to ensure full support for the rescue operation. He instructed the police, the fire brigade, and all relevant agencies to mobilize maximum resources to speed up recovery efforts. The IGP also ordered the traffic police to secure clear routes for ambulances and rescue vehicles heading toward the disaster site.
Background
Industrial boiler explosions have been a recurring issue in Faisalabad’s manufacturing sector. Last April, a similar incident at a textile mill injured a dozen workers after a steam boiler burst, triggering a fire and causing the roof of a hall to collapse.
Rescue Efforts Continue
As of the latest update, rescue workers are continuing to remove debris and search for any remaining victims trapped beneath the collapsed structures. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the latest explosion, and an investigation is expected to follow.
