A BOILER at a glue-making factory in eastern Pakistan exploded today, killing at least 18 people and injuring 21 others. 

The blast destroyed the building, damaged nearby homes and sparked a huge fire, causing panic in the Faisalabad neighbourhood.

Police arrested the factory manager and are searching for the owner, who fled after the explosion. 

Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said the cause was not immediately known, though officers later suggested a gas leak may have triggered it. 

Officials said it was unclear how many of the 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.

Poor safety standards often cause industrial accidents and factory fires in Pakistan. 

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

Last week, a blast at a firecracker factory in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi killed four people.