Boiler explosion at factory kills 18 workers in Faisalabad

A boiler at a glue-making factory in Faisalabad city of Punjab province exploded on Friday, killing at least 18 people and injuring 21 others.

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The force of the blast destroyed the factory building and damaged several nearby homes, igniting a huge fire and spreading panic through the area, officials said.

Police said they arrested the factory manager and were looking for the factory owner who fled shortly after the explosion at the industrial facility in Faisalabad city.

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

It was not clear how many of the 18 dead were factory workers and how many were local residents.

Earlier reports said at least 15 workers were killed.

Local administrator Raja Jahangir said an investigation was underway to determine how construction permits allowed the factory to be built in a residential area of Faisalabad, in violation of building laws.

The explosion "completely flattened" the factory, Jahangir said, adding that rescuers spent hours pulling bodies and survivors out of the rubble.

Several of the injured were in critical condition.

Witnesses said the blast was so powerful that it collapsed nearby homes and hurled debris across the streets.