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60 Firefighters, 25 Trucks Deployed in Response to KAIST Chemical Explosion

Emily Kim Views  

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.

Daejeon Yuseong Fire Department
Daejeon Yuseong Fire Department

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.

Emily Kim
emilykim@insightmsn.com

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