A barrel of liquid nitrogen exploded at a science festival in north-eastern Spain, injuring 18 people including 10 children.
The accident occurred on Friday during the demonstration of an experiment at an event organised by the University of Girona in the Catalan city of Girona.
Moment de l'explosió a la Casa de Cultura de Girona aquest vespre, en un experiment de Dani Jiménez durant la Nit Europea de Recerca. pic.twitter.com/1IoHpBgiFW
— SER CATALUNYA (@SERCatalunya) September 30, 2022
Authorities reported that the explosion occurred in front of an audience of 200-300 people, consisting of families and schoolchildren.
The injuries were mainly caused by parts of the exploding metal canister and not the liquid nitrogen itself.
A five-year-old girl suffered the worst injuries and is being treated in a hospital in Girona, along with four other critically injured people.
A university spokesperson assured that the experiment with the liquid nitrogen had been performed safely multiple times and that it was "incomprehensible" as to why the accident occurred.
The Catalan police are investigating the incident, the spokesperson confirmed.
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