30-04-2013

Explosion in Prague Closes FAMU

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    Photo via international.famu.cz Photo via international.famu.cz

    PRAGUE: An apparent natural gas explosion in central Prague on 29 April 2013 near FAMU film school, resulting in a reported 40 injuries, has closed down the school for the remainder of the week.

    “There were no FAMU students injured,” FAMU Dean Pavel Jech told FNE. “The injured students were from another school” near FAMU. Also in the vicinity of the explosion are Prague’s iconic Café Slavia and the National Theatre. 

    “There is damage, mainly doors and windows, but it’s not any structural damage,” Jech said. “The school is closed for the rest of the week because it’s not accessible. We need to repair the damage.” The city is still assessing the damage caused by the explosion. The school is located in the historic Lazansky Palace, a French neo-Renaissance building that dates from the early 1860’s and sits on the bank of the Vltava River.

    Jech praised the efforts of the city police and firefighters. “There were about 150 to 200 people in the building, and it was very swiftly evacuated,” he said.

    Wednesday is a national holiday in the Czech Republic, and no classes were planned for that day. However, classes taking place in other locations will be held over the remainder of the week.