On May 8, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training (DET) of Nghe An province - said that the fire in the chemical storage room and testing materials at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted had been fixed, and teaching and learning had returned to normal.
The fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m. on May 7 at the school's tool and chemical storage room for the laboratory. This is a room with an area of about 6m2, located in a three-story house. During the cleaning process, an employee dropped a burst of acid, causing a reaction of fire and smoke.
As soon as the incident was discovered, the teachers and security guards used mini fire extinguishers for initial handling. The Fire Police and Rescue Police of Nghe An Province mobilized two specialized vehicles and dozens of officers and soldiers to the scene.
About 45 minutes later, the fire was completely controlled. The incident did not cause any human casualties and caused insignificant material damage. The school has urgently evacuated students from surrounding floors to ensure safety.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan said that the work of ensuring safety and fire prevention in schools has always been of interest and regularly directed by the Department of Education and Training.
"After the incident at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, the Department continued to issue documents reminding and rectifying schools, requiring strict safety control at warehouses and laboratories; absolutely complying with technical regulations" - Mr. Hoan emphasized.
Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted is one of the leading specialized schools in the country, currently building a new facility in Nghi An and Nghi Phong communes, Vinh city to replace the current facility.
