At around 10:30 a.m. on May 7, a fire suddenly broke out in the experimental practice room of Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Vinh City (Nghe An). At the time of the fire, teachers and students were in class when they discovered smoke and fire rising from the three-story building where the laboratory was located.
Although teachers and school security used mini fire extinguishers for initial treatment, because the room contained many chemicals and materials that were easy to catch fire, the fire quickly spread, creating thick smoke.
Immediately afterwards, dozens of students on the first and second floors were urgently evacuated to ensure safety. The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police of Nghe An Province dispatched two specialized vehicles and dozens of soldiers to the scene.
At around 11:15 a.m., the fire was completely controlled. The fire did not cause any human casualties but damaged many equipment and learning tools in the laboratory.
According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of Nghe An Department of Education and Training, the initial cause was determined to be a broken chemical bottle that caused a fire. The Department has directed the school to urgently overcome the consequences and ensure safety before letting students return to school.
Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted is one of the most prestigious schools in the country, currently in the process of building a new facility in Nghi An and Nghi Phong communes to replace the old facility.
Nghe An Provincial Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
