Student still in danger after lab blast in SW China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-14 07:34

KUNMING -- A student remained in critical condition after an explosion in his laboratory at Yunnan University on Friday, said doctors at the General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command in Kunming, capital of southwestern Yunnan Province.

Liu Weihong, a 32-year-old doctoral candidate of the life science school, was severely injured in the explosion when he was collecting experiment waste, local police said.

The explosion happened at about 10:00 a.m. at the No.501 Laboratory of Yunnan Provincial Institute of Microbiology. There were two other students in the laboratory when the accident occurred but they did not suffer any injuries.

The accident might be caused by poor operating procedures, police said.

Ren Qikun, head of the publicity office of the university, said no dangerous chemicals were spilled in the explosion. The cause for the accident was still under investigation.