An early-morning explosion at a glue factory in Malikpur, Faisalabad, killed at least 16 people and injured seven after a suspected gas leak in the factory's chemical warehouse caused the plant to collapse and ignite nearby homes. Officials said most victims were residents of adjacent houses, including six children; the factory manager has been arrested and the owner reportedly fled. Rescue teams continue searching the rubble while investigators probe possible safety and regulatory failures.
Early-Morning Explosion at Faisalabad Glue Factory Kills 16, Injures 7
An early-morning explosion at a glue factory in Malikpur, Faisalabad, killed at least 16 people and injured seven after a suspected gas leak in the factory's chemical warehouse caused the plant to collapse and ignite nearby homes. Officials said most victims were residents of adjacent houses, including six children; the factory manager has been arrested and the owner reportedly fled. Rescue teams continue searching the rubble while investigators probe possible safety and regulatory failures.
12:31 PM, 11/21/2025Society
An early-morning explosion at a glue-making factory in the Malikpur area of Faisalabad, Punjab province, killed at least 16 people and injured seven after collapsing the plant and igniting fires in nearby homes, officials said.
The blast occurred at about 05:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Friday. Preliminary inquiries indicate a gas leak inside the factory's chemical warehouse triggered the explosion, Faisalabad Commissioner Raja Jahangir Anwar said.
The blast flattened the factory roof and damaged the roofs of several neighbouring houses, causing fires in at least three homes. Photographs from the scene showed flames rising from a central impact site as rescue teams moved into burning structures to search for victims.
Authorities reported that the majority of those killed were residents of adjacent houses, including six children. Rescue crews searched through and dug victims from piles of rubble; the seven injured were being treated at a nearby hospital.
The factory manager has been detained while the owner reportedly fled the scene and remains at large as investigators continue their work. Local police and emergency services are conducting a full inquiry into safety practices and the circumstances that led to the blast.
Industrial fires and explosions have been a recurring safety concern in Pakistan this year: an earlier explosion at a textile mill in Faisalabad in 2024 killed a dozen people, and a recent blast at a firecracker factory in Karachi killed four and injured 11.
Officials urged residents to avoid damaged buildings while teams assess remaining chemical hazards and structural instability. Investigators said they would examine whether safety lapses or regulatory failures contributed to the tragedy.