Faisalabad (Pakistan): A powerful explosion at a chemical factory in Faisalabad’s Malikpur area set off a massive fire and caused the collapse of ten nearby houses, killing at least 20 people and injuring seven others, local media reported on Saturday, quoting the rescue officials.

The blast erupted at a factory producing adhesives near Shahab Town’s Kabaddi Stadium Ground and was powerful enough to be heard across the city.

Within moments, flames engulfed the building and spread to adjacent homes, bringing down roofs and walls and trapping entire families beneath the debris, reports leading Pakistani daily, The Express Tribune.

The dead include women, children, elderly residents and factory labourers. Rescue 1122 teams, backed by heavy machinery and 150 personnel, worked for ten hours

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