Hyogo school incident: Students hospitalised after black smoke during science lesson
Several students were transported to hospital after inhaling black smoke released during a second-year science class at Shirasagi Elementary and Junior High School on Thursday morning.
Emergency services in Hyogo Prefecture received a report from staff at Shirasagi Elementary and Junior High School in Himeji at approximately 11:00 am on May 29. The incident occurred during a science lesson for second-year junior high school students, when black smoke was released into the classroom.
According to initial reports from NHK News Japan, teachers notified authorities that students had inhaled the smoke and subsequently complained of feeling unwell. The specific nature of the experiment or the chemical substances involved have not been disclosed by school officials or local emergency responders.
Several students were transported to local hospitals as a precautionary measure. However, the exact number of affected students and the severity of their symptoms remain unspecified in the available reports. Medical conditions and prognoses for those treated have not been released to the public.
The incident has been categorised as a developing story by Japanese media outlets. Authorities are currently assessing the circumstances surrounding the release of the smoke, though no information has been provided regarding whether the event was caused by equipment failure, procedural error, or other factors.
Shirasagi Elementary and Junior High School is a municipal institution located in Himeji City. As investigations into the safety protocols of the science department continue, further details regarding the cause of the incident and the full extent of the health impacts on students are expected to be released as more information becomes available.
