A bush fire | File photo

A fire outbreak on Monday partially destroyed a primary school in Pajok  Payam, according to the area executive director.

Okely Andrew told Eye Radio Tuesday that the fire started from a nearby area before engulfing Chen Primary School.

“The school got burned but not the whole of it, it is just one of the blocks,” he confirmed.

Andrew said by the time they were informed about the fire; five classrooms were already burnt.

He said they only watched the fire burn the school as they lacked the means to put off the inferno.

“The incident happened when the fire was set 5-6 kilometers away from the school. Five classrooms got burned. By the time we got the report, it was already late, the fire caught the roof.”

The school has been closed for the last seven years following the outburst of the 2016 conflict but the Payam official says the authorities were reconsidering reopening it this year.

“The school is not functioning now but we have the idea to open this school this year as children are going back to school,” he said.