Situation At Warwick School, No Serious Injuries

November 26, 2014

[Updated with statements + photos] The police said there was an explosion this morning [Nov 26] at the Warwick Academy science department, with one student receiving minor injuries.

A police spokesperson said, “At 10:30am police and other first responders received a report of explosion at the Science Department of Warwick Academy School. As a result a student was taken to the hospital where she is being treated for minor injuries.

“The schools protocols were enacted and inquiries into this incident are underway and Health and safety officers are on their way to the school. It should be noted the day to day school operation and instruction has not been affected and generally parents should not be alarmed.”

Thankfully the explosion was not serious, and the school looked quite normal following it this morning:

unnamed

Update 12.05pm: A statement from the school sent out earlier said, “At approximately 10:30am this morning one of the walls in an upper room in the Secondary Science block collapsed.

“The students were quickly and efficiently evacuated with one receiving minor injuries and subsequent immediate medical treatment. Currently investigators are on site assessing the safety of the building.

“There will be no classes in the Science block nor access through the building until further notice. We have re-roomed all lessons in the building for the remainder of the day and other lessons will continue as normal.

“The students in the Y7C class who were in the room are obviously upset; we have been counselling them with our two counsellors in addition to them have been checked medically and spoken to by the EMT with trauma training.

“These students will be monitored for the rest of the day and have the option of going home should parents wish to collect. Ms Coakley is busy contacting relevant Y7C parents at the moment.

“We will update you as to any further developments.”

Update 4.32pm: The BFRS said, “At approximately 10:28 am Wednesday, November 25th, 2014 the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service responded to a report of ‘an explosion in the science lab at the Warwick Academy School’ in Warwick.

Station Commander on duty, Lieutenant Colin Swan said, “As the first vehicle on scene, we found a hole in the wall with construction block both outside in the walkway and inside of the second storey classroom.”

Fire Service spokesperson, Sergeant Russann Francis added, “The Fire Service responded to the incident with 3 vehicles staffed with 6 firefighters.

“The classroom was occupied by 23 students with one teacher, and we can report that there was only one person injured who was assessed by Fire Service personnel and transported by ambulance staff to the hospital.

“There was obvious damage to an exterior wall; however, according to local authorities the structure of the building is reportedly sound. They assessed the situation and have determined that Warwick Academy can resume with the school day.”

“We appreciate all of the Warwick Academy faculty and staff for quickly responding to the situation and ensuring the safety of the students, faculty and staff.”

“At present the cause of the explosion is still under investigation,” the BFRS added.

Update 4.50pm: A few photos of the damage below

warwick academy explosion nov 2014 (1)

warwick academy explosion nov 2014 (2)

warwick academy explosion nov 2014 (3)

Read More About

Category: Accidents and fires, All, News

Comments (42)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. smh says:

    I just LOVE how social media gets the report before the parents are informed. Generally parents should not be alarmed. Um ya. Ok.

    • Lois Frederick says:

      Police report was somewhat misleading, as you would immediately conclude that an explosion in a Science lab was due to an experiment going wrong. In fact it was actually a wall that collapsed in the Science Building according to the email from the Principal that all parents received at 11:45am.

      • fedup says:

        How do you think ‘social media’ got the report? Your children.

        • TBH says:

          i’m sorry to say, your assuming something that’s not even true.the children at the school are not allowed on social media as well as they are all in class and the power was turned off at the school, how could they get in contact with them, plus the parents were informed immediately.

          • Micro says:

            Yes because students the world over follow rules to the letter and don’t have electronic devices in their pockets nearly 24/7

          • bdaboy says:

            LOL.
            Yes I followed all the rules to the letter when I attended Warwick Academy. I am also a unicorn.

        • ylol says:

          all kids were in the hall when this explosion happened, till this report was published and their is no way they can use the phone in the assembler

      • Lois Frederick says:

        Okay having seen the damage myself I can say it must have been a considerable force. The official word sent via email to parents is that the explosion was definitely not caused by an experiment. Can’t imagine what did cause it though. I am glad the injuries were as minimal as they were. Being in that room at the time of the explosion would have left those children and the teacher in a state of shock.

        • sage says:

          Just like the Ariel Sands and Palmetto road homes we will never hear any mention of a cause for these “collapses”(explosions). Why?

          • Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

            i dont know if it was ever mentioned but water heaters have a serious blast when they blow…you better not be anywhere around if it does…not to mention the odd gas tube hanging around…jus sayin’

        • bdaboy says:

          “Can’t imagine what did cause it though.”

          You can’t imagine what caused it? These are laboratories, each desk is fed with propane.

      • bob says:

        actually I was in the explosion and it wasn’t a experiment gone wrong we were working with leaves how would it cause it get it right a person who was in it STUPID

    • Voice of Reason says:

      Social media is the fastest way to get ionformation to the masses. I have a child that attends WA and wuite frankly it didnt matter to me how I found out as long as I did and my child and all other are ok.

    • Okay says:

      The teachers didn’t go to Bernews their self and made it a priority to have the media know before everyone else. Parents were emailed as soon as possible afterwards. The whole situation was handled correctly.

    • Kunta says:

      McGyver in de making.

  2. Vote for Me says:

    Sometimes we have to put things (including headlines) in perspective.

  3. limestone says:

    Nowadays, social media is quickest way.

  4. Christopher James says:

    As an ex student, I always wondered about that wall in the science block. That certain potential energy would turn into kinetic energy, and uniform acceleration would occur until and equal and opposite force brought the mass to a complete stop.

    I hope the student is doing well and now fully understand Newton’s Law.

  5. Valirie Marcia Akinstall says:

    Social media is the modern form of mass communications.

    You either send via mass broadcast text or email messages or place parents numbers on speed dial, but that still may not be enough to contact all parents.

    Here is where social media services are helpful and informative by getting the information directly from the source such as, school representative, police and/or other essential services, and keeping you updated as circumstances change.

    Even if someone else sees the article, they can then alert a parent when a school cannot reach that parent.

    London, England

  6. hmmm says:

    Hope the kids and teacher are all OK. Probably quite shocked at what happened.

    My concerns are with the kids and that teacher. shame that so much of the above prefer to comment on social media than the wellbeing of those affected.

    • Lois Frederick says:

      I’m with you. The students were only 11 year olds.

  7. Terry says:

    Times change.
    irony.

  8. Kiana says:

    I hope that my friends are ok at school plz pray for my best friend

  9. Watcher55 says:

    What the hell were they mixing over there???

  10. Chivi says:

    I’m so happy everybody is fine and relieved that there were not major injuries. My child was in the classroom at that time and he says it was quite scary. I did received the phone call from the school right away before social media. WA is wonderful at keeping the parents inform right away!

  11. TJ says:

    I think everyone needs to not worry about the logistics, the situation was handled very well. As long as all students and teachers were okay, it really doesn’t matter. All the other extra stuff to do with the media, the story had to get out and parents were informed less then 30 minutes after the incendent. So we just have to give thanks that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

  12. Ride says:

    Eh? I’m no mason or architect but it seems to me, from the photo provided, that the collapsed wall was not filled with concrete. Aren’t all walls supposed to be filled? Particularly load bearing walls. Isn’t that wall supporting the roof?

    If it was supposed to be filled with concrete and it has not then I’d like to know who built it.

    Ride

    • sage says:

      Probably stuffed with cement bags and beer bottles, a little rebar might have helped too. Looking at the pictures it may have been gas leaking into the cabinet which somehow ignited, if the wall was solid the desk would have blown across the room.

  13. Keepin' it Real!...4Real! says:

    Just a scenario ok…”Ten Children killed in explosion”…AND you are ARGUING ABOUT WHO REPORTED IT FIRST..??// WHAT DA F#@K!??

    I want to know WHAT pushed that wall out!

    and in all due respect,YES that would scare the crap out of anybody sitting in there…but geesh , trauma counselling…sure, if it was an act of terrorism…everyone heads down in their work THEN BANG!! not knowing who or what almost just killed them…so WHAT was happening in that room when it did…of course many people know …but i see none here…hmm

  14. wondering says:

    walls do not just collapse like that – that is evidence of some lateral force being applied. the laws of physics do not allow for it…simple.

  15. Cardine Alice says:

    Whereas my daughter now wants to transfer to WA as they seem to have the best mad science experiments….

  16. Kathy Cervino says:

    Ain’t no cement in those walls!!!

  17. Truth is killin' me... says:

    Oh boy…outside load bearing walls that support the roof are not filled with concrete. Who built that school dammit!? SCANDAL at WARWICK ACADEMY!! You know how many house on this islands are incorrectly built on this island and still “PASS INSPECTION” by Department of Planning…nearly all of them!!

  18. Tom Cooke says:

    That wall does not need to be filled with concrete… only needs a concrete lintel around the top 12 inches for the roof belt. Saying that, block walls like that don’t just drop out without some latrel force..

  19. Parent says:

    In the circumstances, the whole situation seems to have been handled in an exemplary fashion by Warwick Academy. I think everyone would expect an investigation and explanation of the cause, and there’s no reason to think one will not be forthcoming. Like others, it does seem as if some kind of force was applied – walls don’t just fall out like that.