An explosion at the Faculty of Chemistry in Tarragona leaves three slightly 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, which received the notice at 9:17 a.m. this Monday morning, the explosion occurred while chemicals were being handled. Seven units 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. All three are in mild condition, but one of them requires special medical attention for personal health reasons, according to Carvajal.
The vice-rector for infrastructure 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 and caused a deflagration. The workers immediately activated the emergency showers that began spraying water from the laboratory ceiling, preventing greater 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 anyway. During the event, there were no students present, because classes start tomorrow.