Hundreds of students and staff safely removed from Takinogawa No. 3 Elementary School in northern Tokyo as firefighters contain blaze; at least 10 people reported injured, mostly from smoke inhalation.
Japanese authorities evacuated around 300 students and staff from a primary school in Tokyo’s Kita Ward on Friday after a fire erupted in a music room on the fourth floor of the building.
The fire broke out around 11 a.m. local time at Takinogawa No. 3 Elementary School (also referred to as Takinogawa Daisan Elementary School), prompting a swift response from the Tokyo Fire Department. Firefighters used more than 50 pump trucks to contain the blaze within about an hour, with the fire damaging an area of roughly 150 to 200 square metres.
Safe evacuation amid smoke:
All students and staff were successfully evacuated or rescued, with no one left behind in the building, officials said. Many moved to a nearby park as a precautionary measure. Regular fire drills are credited with helping ensure an orderly response.
At least 10 people-including eight children and two teachers-were taken to hospitals, primarily for smoke inhalation. One child reportedly suffered a fracture during the evacuation. No serious injuries have been confirmed so far.
Cause under investigation:
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and investigations are ongoing. Smoke was visible rising from the school building as students gathered on rooftops and in surrounding areas during the evacuation, according to footage shared on social media.
Parents expressed relief at the rapid response by emergency services, while some children described the incident as frightening. Classes at the school are expected to be disrupted in the coming days.