Students from eleven schools in Al Quoz evacuated

Dubai: Students from eleven schools in Al Quoz were immediately evacuated on Wednesday as a protective measure taken to ensure student safety following the massive explosion.

On learning about the explosion, the Schools Agency of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority contacted Dubai Civil Defence and agreed to immediately evacuate six schools in the area. Five schools in neighboring areas were also evacuated.

According to a statement sent by KHDA to Gulf News: “These measures were taken primarily to avoid exposing students to the smoke and ashes from the explosion and reduce congestion in the area to allow the responsible authorities unencumbered access to the neighborhood."

Fatma Al Marri, CEO of the Dubai Schools Agency, said: “We immediately activated our plans to secure students' safety in close coordination with Dubai Civil Defence, the affected schools' principals and parents. Our crisis team called all schools in the area to assist them fully in dealing with the challenges posed by the disaster. Students have been bused from the area back home for the day although we expect schools to reopen normally on Thursday.''

The schools evacuated in Al Quoz were: Abi Hanifa, Anisa Al Ansariah, Dubai American Scientific School, Dubai First School, Dubai International School and Deans International School.