Nearly 300 Students, Teachers Evacuated After Fire Breaks Out at Tokyo Elementary School

Nearly 300 students and teachers were safely evacuated or rescued after a fire broke out at an elementary school in central Tokyo on Friday, prompting a major emergency response from local authorities.

According to the Tokyo Fire Department , the blaze erupted late Friday morning at Takinogawa No. 3 Elementary School , a four-story building located in downtown Tokyo. The fire is believed to have started near a music room on the school's top floor.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and rescued one teacher and several schoolchildren from the building. Officials said those rescued sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received medical attention.

Television footage from the scene showed thick black smoke billowing from fourth-floor windows as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Authorities deployed dozens of fire engines and emergency personnel to tackle the fire and ensure the safety of those inside.

Officials said that all other students and staff members who were in the school at the time managed to evacuate safely to a nearby park before emergency crews arrived. Authorities confirmed that no one was left inside the building .

The incident triggered a swift evacuation operation, preventing what could have been a far more serious emergency. Firefighters continued efforts to fully extinguish the blaze while investigators began examining the scene.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation , and officials have not yet determined what sparked the incident.