Fire at Tokyo Elementary School Leaves 10 Injured; Students Evacuate Safely

A fire broke out at a public elementary school in Tokyo's Kita Ward on the morning of the 19th, sending thick black smoke billowing from the building. Local fire and police authorities reported that the fire has been brought under control. A total of 10 people sustained injuries, and approximately 200 square meters on the fourth floor of the school were damaged. All students and staff were successfully evacuated, with no one trapped inside.

The incident occurred at Takinogawa Daisan Elementary School, located in a residential area of the Takinogawa district, approximately 160 meters from Asuka-yama Station on the Toden Arakawa Line. The Tokyo Fire Department dispatched over 50 emergency vehicles. The fire affected the fourth-floor music room and surrounding areas, and was brought under control shortly after noon.

Injuries include eight students and two teachers. Among the students, eight suffered from smoke inhalation, and one sustained a fracture while evacuating. Additionally, a female teacher suffered a leg injury, and a male teacher reported feeling unwell. According to police and fire department estimates, approximately 330 students and staff were present in the school when the fire started.

A sixth-grade student described the scene: "The smell of smoke grew stronger and the alarms started ringing. When we reached the hallway, it was filled with smoke, and visibility was extremely low. We were guided by teachers to the playground. I heard an explosion, which was terrifying."

The school is a four-story reinforced concrete building. The Kita Ward Board of Education has dispatched staff to the site to assess the situation. Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.