Dubai, Oct 19 (Emirates 24x7): A school in Dubai has been shut down since last Wednesday, October 12, and has been advised to remain shut until October 23 by Dubai’s Civil Defence Authority due to concerns over air quality.

The school, Dubai’s Greenfield Community School run by Taleem Schools, and located in Dubai’s Green Community area, was first instructed to evacuate during last week, on October 12 morning “because of concerns over air quality due to a fire in Dubai Investment Park,” its Principal Angela Hollington, said in an Open Letter on the school website.

“Tests were done on the quality of the air by the CDA and in the interests of safety all children and staff were sent home,” she wrote.

“The situation was monitored by the CDA over the weekend and we were informed by them that it was safe to open the school again on Sunday, October 16. However, the area began to experience problems again yesterday [Monday] evening, tests were undertaken, and the CDA informed us that the level of air quality had once again begun to deteriorate. The school is therefore closed today, Tuesday, October 18 and we have just been informed, will now re-open on Sunday, October 23,” the Principal’s letter said.

The school has about 1,000 students.

According to reports, a Civil Defence notice to the school yesterday warns that the site of the school and adjoining areas remains polluted by poisonous gases. “We would like to inform you that the air surrounding the site of the fire which took place at the chemical warehouse is still polluted by poisonous gases carried by plumes of smoke,” the Civil Defence notice to the school said.

A fire had broken out in a warehouse in Dubai Investments Park on October 11, and had resulted in chemicals leaking from the site.

Dubai Civil Defence officials had then said a hazardous materials containment team had responded to the incident and cleaned up the site.