Nanaimo students in Nice safe but some 'stressed' after witnessing attack, says school official

Nanaimo school officials say its students and chaperones are safe in Nice, France but they are now watching forsigns of trauma after some from the group witnessed the deadly attack.

Dale Burgos, director of communications at the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District, said he's been told some students were less than 30 metres away from the scene of the incident.

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"There were some very, very close and had witnessed the attack," he said. "Obviously very troubling."

About 85 students and 12 adult chaperones from the Nanaimo areawereon a school-related trip to Nice, where a terrorist attack during Bastille Day celebrations killed at least 84people and injured many more.

Somestudents and teachers are now feeling "a bit of stress" but Burgos says thedistrict is doing what itcan to take care of the group.

"We're asking our teachers out there to make sure they keep an eye out on them," he said. "We've given them instructions on signs of traumawhat to look for,and if we have to, we'll send counselors out as soon as we can."

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Burgos says school principals met yesterday to callparents and reassure them their childrenhad all been accounted for. He said although many had already been in touch with their kids, parentswere still "pretty shaken."

The student-teacher contingentis believed to have left Nice on a daytrip.

They were supposed to head to Spain next as part ofthe cultural learning trip and return to Vancouver Island on July 25.

Theschool district has been updating itswebsiteand Twitter with information andtheirnext steps.

In a tweet, Premier Christy Clark said news of the attack is "horrible" and she is thinking of all those involved and their families.

With files from The Canadian Press and CBC Radio's On The Island