Pakistan factory in deadly collapse

The aftermath of a building collapse in the Pakistani city of Lahore.

The three-storey factory crumbled to the ground on Monday after a gas explosion, killing at least three people and trapping dozens more.

One woman who was rescued from the rubble describes what happened.

(SOUNDBITE) (Punjabi) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN WORKER, SAYING:

"I went up safely. I put on my work card and went up in the lift. I opened the door, sat down on the floor and lit the stove. I was all alone. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion and then a cracking sound. Dust and smoke rose all around. Nothing was visible after that."

Locals said around 45 boys, between the ages of 12 and 24, were working in the factory when it collapsed.

The incident is likely to raise fresh questions about Pakistan's industrial safety, with many critics already saying building and zoning regulations are weak and often not enforced.

A senior official said the factory should not have been operating, and had been shut down some time ago.

It was not immediately clear why it had been ordered sealed.

Travis Brecher, Reuters