The collapse of a school balcony in Ma-Yan-Gone village in Thaton Township, Mon State on November 8th, injured more than two dozen students. Three students remain in the hospital for medical treatment.
The school balcony collapsed when students gathered to join in the celebration known as Donation of Ka-Htain [a ceremony offering robes to monks] which was combined with a teacher farewell party at their school.
“Students were going up to the second floor of the Pwint Oo Yadanar building to pay respect to their teachers. The balcony crashed when female students were standing outside before entering the room. The balcony could not hold the weight and collapsed,” said Daw Moe Moe Hlaing, a teacher from the high school.
Twenty-six grade 6 female students were injured, 12 broke arms and legs and were sent to the Thaton District hospital.
“They [the students] sustained fractures or cuts on their bodies. It happened suddenly. Fortunately, no students were beneath the balcony when it crashed” said a students father U Aung Naing.
The Pwint Oo Yadanar was built in 1973, is now closed and considered a hazardous building.
