A fire on Wednesday devastated a boarding school in the Thai border town of Mae Sot.
The Children’s Development Centre, founded by Dr Cynthia Maung of the town’s well-known Mae Tao clinic, suffered serious damage when a fire spread to student accommodation after starting in a nearby sugar cane field. The blaze ignited at around 4pm on 25 February.
Shwe Hnin, the head teacher of the school, told DVB that the fire destroyed students’ belongings including books, stationery and clothes.
“As the fire broke out just after school hours, the majority of students were not yet back at the hostel. Most of their belongings were lost, including books, clothing and other utilities,” said Shwe Hnin, adding that the hostel kitchen was also damaged.
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He said that two students who were at the hostel at the time of the fire had attempted to salvage their belongings, sustaining burns in the process.
“Two students were injured while attempting to retrieve their belongings and a ceiling collapsed on them – they sustained burns to their arms, but the injuries were not serious.”
Sixty-two students between 4th and 12th grades are now being sheltered in classrooms.
“We are providing temporary shelter for the students at the school. Teachers are now brainstorming ways to assist them,” said Shwe Hnin.
The fire has wreaked its damage just as end-of-year exams are scheduled to take place.
