A fire damaged part of an elementary school in a densely populated area of Tokyo on Friday, with 11 people, mainly children, taken to hospital due to injuries and other causes.
The fire started around 11 a.m at Takinogawa Daisan Elementary School in Kita Ward. It was extinguished in about three hours after burning across an area of about 200 square meters.
According to sources including the Tokyo Fire Department, the fire likely started from an unused heater in a music room on the fourth floor.
Firefighters rescued three pupils and one teacher who could not escape.
At least two pupils suffered bone fractures due to falling while evacuating, and six other children had smoke inhalation or other injuries. Two teachers and a school staff member were also injured or felt sick, but all the other people at the school evacuated safely, NHK reported.
The sources said that all of the 11 people sent to hospital were conscious.
Investigation of the cause of the fire by Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department and the fire department is ongoing.
According to the police, a class for fifth graders was being held in the music room when the fire began. A burning smell was coming from a room used to store musical instruments and a teacher saw smoke when he opened the door.
A fire alarm went off but no sprinklers were installed in the room.
The school, located about 500 meters south of Oji Station, has about 340 students.
