Wild elephant enters school, destroys crops in Son La

According to the Huoi Mot Commune general services centre in Son La Province, at about 5.15 am on April 4, security cameras at Huoi Mot Semi-Boarding Ethnic Minority Secondary School recorded an adult elephant crossing a national highway before entering the campus.

The animal broke through a steel fence and moved into the student accommodation area. On-duty staff and teachers quickly issued alerts, instructing students to remain in their rooms to avoid provoking the elephant. No injuries were reported.

Tran Dinh Chien, a teacher at Huoi Mot Semi-Boarding Ethnic Minority Secondary School, said the elephant roamed around the campus after breaking the fence. Early detection by staff allowed timely warnings, preventing any casualties.

“After circling the school, the elephant continued to break through the fence and went up the hill,” he said.

Authorities warned that beyond economic losses, the repeated presence of wild elephants near the school poses a serious safety risk. Teachers have been assigned round-the-clock duty to guide students on how to respond and to prevent them from approaching the animal.

In nearby hamlets, residents said the elephant has frequently appeared, causing significant damage to crops and property.

Lo Van Vinh, head of Keo Hamlet in Huoi Mot Commune, said elephants have recently entered residential areas, destroying rice, corn, cassava and temporary shelters.

“Each time an elephant appears, it causes considerable damage. We have advised residents not to approach and to report sightings immediately to authorities,” he said.

Local officials warned residents not to approach, film or photograph elephants, as the animals are highly sensitive and may attack if they feel threatened.

People have also been advised to avoid entering forests and limit travel during early morning and night hours, when elephants are most active.