Many schools set on fire New Year’s Eve

4 January 2008

APELDOORN – More than 20 schools were set on fire on New Year’s Eve this week, compared to less than ten during the festivities a year earlier.

Most of the fires were the result of "heavier fireworks" set off deliberately in the direction of the buildings. A spokesperson for insurance company Centraal Beheer Achmea said this on Friday.

Most of the schools affected are primary schools. The spokesperson from Achmea says this is evidence that primary schools are not adequately secure.

"More should be done to prevent these situations, by setting up camera surveillance for instance." More schools should also install sprinkler installations, the insurance company says, to spare society the high costs of the damage caused by these kinds of fires.

At the request of broadcaster NOS, Achmea, which insures most of the schools in the Netherlands, investigated how many schools suffered fire damage during New Year’s Eve festivities. An initial estimate places that number at about 20, compared to seven last year. The total damage is reportedly between EUR 20 and 25 million.

"It causes a lot of damage for society, aside from the fire damage. Children cannot return to school immediately, for instance, and childcare has to be arranged," the spokesperson said.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2008]

Subject: Dutch news