A major fire has completely engulfed a children's and youth school in northern Norway. Emergency crews are working to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
The operations leader said firefighters are trying to save the remaining parts of the school building. Flames have taken over the roof section of one part of the school.
Thick black smoke is pouring from the school and spreading across the local community. Witnesses reported seeing numerous emergency vehicles with blue lights at the scene.
One local resident described the situation as concerning. "We can smell the smoke outside our house, and we see it getting closer," they said. The family has decided to leave their home temporarily.
The affected school is Sørreisa Elementary and Middle School, located in Troms county. This region experiences extreme winter conditions, making fire response particularly challenging.
No injuries have been reported so far. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
School fires in remote Nordic communities pose serious challenges due to limited firefighting resources and harsh weather conditions. The complete loss of a school building will disrupt education for the entire community until alternative arrangements can be made.