An alarm was raised at a school in the Hat Yai area of southern Thailand on Wednesday afternoon, as, according to sources cited by Reuters, an armed individual is holding an unknown number of students and teachers hostage.

Other sources stress that the gunman is 18 years old and opened fire, injuring at least two people.

At the same time, he has taken a school employee hostage.

The incident began around 4:45 p.m. local time, when the perpetrator entered the school premises close to the time students were leaving.

Local police, along with special units and rescue teams, have sealed off the area to contain the situation.

Authorities are currently proceeding with evacuating the premises, while administrative officials are attempting to negotiate with the gunman.