Fire at boarding school in China, 13 students died

Firefighters received a fire report at the Anh Tai School dormitory in Phuong Thanh district, Ha Nam at around 11 p.m. on January 19 (Photo: Xinhua).

All of the victims were third-graders, according to Zonglan News . One injured person is being treated in hospital and is currently in stable condition.

According to Xinhua , local firefighters received a fire report at Anh Tai School in Nghien Son Pho village, Phuong Thanh district at 11 p.m. on January 19.

"Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire at 11:38 p.m.," Xinhua reported.

Anh Tai School is located about 20km from Phuong Thanh district.

According to Anh Tai School’s WeChat account, the campus covers an area of ​​about 2.3 hectares, with buildings and facilities covering an area of ​​about 17,000 square meters. The school has primary and preschool blocks, operating as a boarding school.

Cover News quoted locals as describing the school as a “private primary school in the town”, which was established about 10 years ago and mainly serves local students. Most students are boarders at the school.

A business owner near the school said he rushed to the scene when the fire broke out.

"The fire was so fierce that the flames could be seen from afar and the smoke could be smelled," he told Beijing Youth Daily . "Students' cries for help could be heard. Fire trucks and ambulances quickly arrived at the scene."

Following the incident, leaders of Henan province and neighboring Nanyang city set up a command center to respond to the situation, Xinhua reported.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and are dealing with the aftermath, Xinhua reported. The school principal has also been detained.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/chay-truong-noi-tru-o-trung-quoc-13-hoc-sinh-thiet-mang-20240120204512483.htm