A powerful explosion and fire broke out at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), one of South Korea’s top research universities, injuring a woman in her 20s. The incident occurred at KAIST’s Department of Bio and Chemical Engineering in Daejeon, a major city located about 100 miles south of Seoul.
The explosion happened on Wednesday at approximately 9:52 p.m. local time on the fifth floor of a campus laboratory building in the Yuseong District. About 30 students were urgently evacuated from the site following the blast.
According to the Daejeon Yuseong Fire Department, a student in a nearby classroom alerted emergency responders after hearing a sudden bang during study hours.
Firefighters responded quickly, deploying 25 fire trucks and 60 personnel to the scene. The fire was brought under control and fully extinguished by 10:52 p.m., about 30 minutes after the initial explosion.
Acetone Experiment Believed to Be Involved; Full Investigation Underway
A woman in her mid-20s sustained serious injuries in the explosion and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities also reported that a significant amount of laboratory equipment was destroyed in the fire.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion may have occurred during an experiment involving acetone, a highly flammable solvent commonly used in chemical research.
As questions arise about lab safety protocols at KAIST, fire authorities are conducting a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident and assess the extent of the damage.
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