Death toll rise in Lahore factory collapse

The death toll from a factory collapse in Lahore, Pakistan, rose to at least 15 Tuesday as rescuers looked for victims trapped in the rubble, authorities said. CNN, quoting police official Muhammad Salim in the country's second largest city, said the toll from the Monday disaster stood at 15. Geo News reported the toll had risen to 19 with the discovery of more bodies later Tuesday. The three-story veterinary medicine factory, which authorities said had been operating illegally in a residential area of Lahore, caved in Monday after an apparent gas leak triggered an explosion. News International, quoting rescue workers, reported those killed included seven women and three children. The explosion also brought down three nearby homes. Several more people were feared buried under the rubble. Rescue workers searched through the night looking for survivors, encountering difficulties bringing in equipment and cranes through narrow lanes. At least 15 more people were injured in the incident. A police official was quoted as saying the factory had been ordered closed three times in the past.