Teachers and pupils escaped through windows after a fire ripped through a school in Tokyo. Video footage captured the moment children cowered on a ledge of the building while thick smoke billowed out at around 11am on Friday.
Fire Breaks Out at Takinogawa Daisan Elementary School
There were around 300 students and staff in the Takinogawa Daisan Elementary School in the north of the city when fire broke out in the music room on the fourth floor. Firefighters managed to rescue a teacher and schoolchildren, several of whom are being treated for smoke inhalation.
Around 10 people were injured but none have life-threatening conditions. The cause is currently under investigation. It is understood that a class was being held in the music room when the fire began. A burning smell came from a room used to store musical instruments, according to The Japan Times.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Emergency services arrived swiftly and evacuated the building. Children were seen huddled on a narrow ledge as thick black smoke poured from the windows above them. Firefighters used ladders to reach those trapped and bring them to safety.
Several students were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, while others were taken to local hospitals for observation. Authorities have launched an investigation into the origin of the fire.
The school has been closed pending further safety checks. Parents were notified and reunited with their children at a nearby community center.
