Boiler Blast At Pakistan Factory Kills At Least 18, Sparks Safety Concerns

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Authorities say a boiler at a glue-making factory in eastern Pakistan exploded on Friday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 21 others, underscoring broader concerns over safety standards in the Islamic nation.

Witnesses reported that the force of the blast destroyed the factory building and damaged several nearby homes, igniting a massive fire and spreading panic throughout the area.

Police told the media that they arrested the factory manager and were looking for the factory owner, who fled shortly after the explosion at the industrial facility in Faisalabad, a major city in Punjab province.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately known, according to Punjab police chief Usman Anwar. Police later said a gas leak may have caused the blast.

It remained unclear how many of the 18 dead were factory workers and how many were nearby residents. Earlier reports suggested at least 15 workers had been killed.

INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY

Local administrator Raja Jahangir stated that an investigation was underway into how construction permits had allowed the factory to operate in a densely populated residential area of Faisalabad, in violation of building regulations.

He said the explosion “completely flattened” the structure and that rescuers spent hours pulling bodies and survivors from beneath the rubble. Several of the wounded were in critical condition.

Residents described a scene of devastation, saying the blast collapsed surrounding homes and sent debris flying across streets. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif offered condolences to affected families and ordered top-level medical care for the injured.

Muhammad Iqbal, one of the injured, said the explosion felt “like an earthquake,” adding that “roofs and walls of nearby houses collapsed.” He said his wife and son were also hurt but were in stable condition.

Another resident, 45-year-old Nadeem Zafar, said he rushed outside after a deafening boom and saw “flames and thick smoke rising. People were screaming, running in every direction, calling for help.”

RESCUE TEAMS

Ambulances and rescue teams quickly arrived in the Malikpur neighborhood and began pulling victims from the rubble, Zafar said. Many initially feared it was a bomb attack or a projectile strike.

Industrial accidents are common in Pakistan, where weak enforcement of safety standards often leads to deadly factory fires and explosions.

In 2024, a similar boiler blast injured a dozen workers at a textile mill in Faisalabad.

Last week, four people were killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the port city of Karachi, officials said.

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