RIYADH: A girl student died and 25 others were injured on Tuesday when a school canopy in Muhayel, Asir, collapsed.

Educational, municipal and health officials went to the scene immediately and a committee has been formed to investigate the collapse.

Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled ordered the formation of the committee headed by the Muhayel governor. A representative from Civil Defense, police, and the Educational Directorate began investigations immediately.

The governor said the committee should complete its investigations as quickly as possible so that he could receive a full report and know whom to hold accountable.

He expressed his sympathy and condolences to the parents of the girl who died and offered prayers for the quick recovery of the injured.

Education Minister Ahmad Al-Issa told a local newspaper that the investigating committee included the ministry’s undersecretary for school buildings, Younes Al-Barak, and the chief of the ministry’s school safety department, Majed Al-Harbi.

The Asir Health Directorate announced a state of emergency in the province’s hospitals. Asir Health Directorate spokesman Saeed Al-Naqeer said the emergency room had received a number of cases, including five cases of broken limbs and 17 involving different injuries.

Medical teams were also on standby to deal with the situation along with the Saudi Red Crescent and Civil Defense. Saudi Red Crescent spokesman in Asir said the operations room received the report of the canopy collapse at 10:15 in the morning. “Our teams at once went to the scene and began working with the Asir Health Directorate,” he said.

Mohammad Asiri, a parent of one of the pupils, said: “We are deeply shocked and don’t understand what happened. We pray for the girl who died and those who were injured. We want to know what went wrong and who is responsible.”