A fire broke out at an elementary school in Tokyo on Friday, injuring 11 people, including eight pupils, after flames spread from a storage room near a music classroom, authorities said.
The blaze erupted late Friday morning at a school in Tokyo's Kita Ward and was brought under control after several hours. Most of the injured suffered smoke inhalation, while two students sustained broken arms and a teacher suffered a pelvic fracture.
Around 340 students attend the school, where classes were underway when the fire started. Emergency crews rescued three pupils and a teacher, while all students were safely evacuated to the school grounds.
Officials said the fire originated in a fourth-floor storage room and caused significant damage, including charring part of the building's exterior wall. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as thick black smoke billowed from the school, while students and staff worked together to maintain calm during the evacuation.
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