Children injured after classroom floor completely collapses into pool of water
Dozens of children were hurt after a classroom floor collapsed and sent pupils plunging into a pool of water 10ft below.
Students at Phanatpittayakarn School in Chonburi province, Thailand, were taking part in an English quiz when the floor of the old building gave way on Thursday.
Around 30 kids fell through and landed in dirty water that had gathered below.
Most of the youngsters, who were pulled out by teachers, sustained minor scrapes and bruises, while two pupils complaining of back pain were taken to hospital.
School director Prayoch Keeratipakorn said: ‘The floor must have collapsed when the students rushed to the front to answer questions. Most of them were only bruised, but a few were taken to the hospital.’
He said he had previously ordered repairs on some of the 47-year-old school’s facilities when he became headteacher.
However, Mr Keeratipakorn said the classroom in question had not been due repairs as the floorboards appeared in good condition.
The school had apologised to the children’s parents for the accident, he added.
Meanwhile, the damaged sections of the school have been cordoned off for repairs.
Students were relocated to other parts of the building for their lessons, Mr Keeratipakorn said.
In 2021 a dozen children and an adult were hospitalised after a ceiling collapsed at Rosemead Preparatory School, in Dulwich, London.
And in September this year, several schools in the UK temporarily closed after fears buildings constructed using RAAC concrete could suddenly collapse.
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