Fire at kindergarten in Nghe An, people broke the gate to help evacuate hundreds of students

At around 11:30 a.m., an accident occurred on the power line running along the side of the Le Mao Kindergarten building (Dinh Cong Trang Street, Vinh City). “After a small explosion, a fire broke out and smoke immediately billowed,” said a woman selling goods right next to the school.

The scene of the fire was the power line running along the side of the kindergarten building. Photo: Tien Hung

At that time, there were more than 300 students taking a break after lunch inside the school, the school gate was locked. People around immediately shouted to put out the fire, and at the same time broke the gate to rush into the school to evacuate the children.

Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh, along with leaders of the Provincial Party Committee Office and Vinh City leaders, were present at the scene of the fire.

Just a few minutes later, hundreds of children were evacuated by soldiers, local people and teachers to the headquarters of the Vinh City Military Command on the opposite side.

Parents evacuate students outside.

Nghe An Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Dac Vinh was also present at the scene to direct the fire fighting and reassure the parents.

More than 300 kindergarten students were evacuated to the Vinh City Military Command headquarters opposite the school. Photo: Tien Hung

Minutes after the fire was discovered, two fire trucks and dozens of firefighters had completely contained the fire. Present at the scene, Mr. Tran Ngoc Tu - Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee said that initially, there were no recorded casualties in the fire, all the children had been safely evacuated. Meanwhile, the initial cause was determined to be an electrical short circuit.