VIDEO: Explosion at science experiment in Spain injures at least 18 people
A combo image shows the liquid nitrogen cylinder exploding in Girona, Barcelona.
A horrific explosion at a science festival in northeast Spain injured 18 people, including 10 children aged between 3 and 13.
The incident happened on Friday evening during the demonstration of an experiment at the House of Culture in Catalan city of Girona, local media reported.
During a demonstration at the festival organized by the University of Girona, a container of liquid nitrogen exploded in front of an audience of about 200 people, mostly families.
The authorities said most injuries resulted from flying parts of the exploded metal container.
A 5-year-old girl suffered the worst injuries.
She is hospitalized in Girona, along with four other seriously injured, two other children aged 10 and 12, a 47-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man.
The other 13 injured were discharged from hospital between Friday evening and Saturday, according to local media.
University of Girona spokesperson Salvador Martí assured that the experiment with the liquid nitrogen had been carried out many times without any problems.
He said it was "incomprehensible" why the accident happened this time.
Catalan police have launched an investigation into the incident.
