3 students killed in China lab explosion

Three students were killed in a laboratory blast at a Beijing university yesterday, the city’s fire department said, in an accident that blew out windows and left the building a blackened shell.

“There was an explosion at the experimental site during a scientific research experiment” on wastewater treatment in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Beijing Fire Department said.

“The accident caused the death of three students,” it added in a statement posted on its social media account.

The incident happened just after 9:30am (0130 GMT) at the Beijing Jiaotong University in the western part of the city.

Some 30 fire engines were sent to the scene, and it took nearly an hour to get the blaze under control. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. A video posted by the state-run People’s Daily newspaper showed blown-out windows and blackened buildings around a courtyard, with trees and ground covered in firefighting foam.

Images on social media showed plumes of dark smoke billowing from low-rise buildings as firefighters fought to contain the blaze.

Students could be seen wearing face masks and complaining of an acrid smell.

 

3 students killed in China lab explosion

Three students were killed in a laboratory blast at a Beijing university yesterday, the citys fire department said, in an accident that blew out windows and left the building a blackened shell. There was an explosion at the experimental site during a scientific research experiment on wastewater treatment in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Beijing Fire Department said. The accident caused the death of three students, it added in a statement posted on its social media account. The incident happened just after 9:30am (0130 GMT) at the Beijing Jiaotong University in the western part of the city. Some 30 fire engines were sent to the scene, and it took nearly an hour to get the blaze under control. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the incident. A video posted by the state-run Peoples Daily newspaper showed blown-out windows and blackened buildings around a courtyard, with trees and ground covered in firefighting foam. Images on social media showed plumes of dark smoke billowing from low-rise buildings as firefighters fought to contain the blaze. Students could be seen wearing face masks and complaining of an acrid smell.