Minor injuries as students fall into water as classroom collapses

They found the collapsed classroom locked and a rope cordoning off the area. There were visible signs of damage and no evidence that repairs had commenced. School staff had returned only to pump water out of the affected area in preparation for repairs and restoration.

Several rooms had previously undergone repairs, but the school decided to close the three-storey building temporarily for further improvements. Students from grades 7-9 have been relocated to other buildings for classes until the repair and renovation work is completed.

Prayot Kiratipakorn, the school director, said that upon assuming his position, he noticed that in some classrooms, the wooden floorboards were bent. Immediate repairs were carried out at the time, he said, but there had been no issues with the classroom where the floor collapsed on Thursday. 

He said that at the time of the collapse, students had run into the classroom and their combined weight may have caused the floor to collapse. Some students experienced bruising, while two students sustained minor injuries and the school is providing them with good care, the director added. 

The school administration and the parents understand that this was an accident, Prayot said, adding that the school administration extends their apologies to the parents for the incident and is committed to student safety.
With student safety in mind, the school had already planned to renovate all of the old classrooms during the major semester break, he said. The building was closed after the incident, and students have been relocated to other buildings until repairs are done.