An explosion at the Faculty of Chemistry of Tarragona leaves three injured
The firefighters report that the explosion has occurred during the handling of chemical products
TarragonaAn explosion at the practical laboratory of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Rovira i Virgili University, in Tarragona, has left at least three people injured. According to the Generalitat Fire Department, who received the notice at 9:17 a.m. this Monday morning, the explosion occurred while chemical products were being handled. Seven crews are working on the incident at the Faculty, located on Marcel·lí Domingo street. The three workers, who were able to notify 112, have been transferred to the Joan XXIII Hospital and the Santa Tecla Hospital. Two of them are in serious condition and one is in mild condition, although all three are out of danger. In addition, one of them requires special medical attention, for personal health reasons.
The vice-rector for infrastructures at the URV, Fàtima Sabench, explained in a press conference that the accident occurred while three workers were handling nitric acid and a bottle fell to the ground, causing a deflagration. The workers immediately activated the emergency showers which began spraying water from the laboratory ceiling, preventing further harm. The same water, in addition to protecting the workers, washed away the nitric acid.
The dean of the Faculty of Chemistry at the URV, Joan Carvajal, explained that the workers were transferring the acid from a five-litre bottle into others of one litre each, to prepare for the practical classes starting tomorrow. This operation is carried out with special pumps and inside protective hoods, as a safety measure, but the hands remain inside the hood and are exposed.
The incident did not cause any chemical cloud, but the ground floor was evacuated nonetheless. During the event, there were no students present, as classes begin tomorrow.