Student Suffers Burns in Australia University Lab Blast

A student from Canberra's Australian National University was recovering in hospital last night after the science experiment she was working on exploded in the university's chemistry building, forcing the evacuation of 200 people, reports The Canberra Times.

The student suffered first-degree burns to her face, hands and chest when the experiment went horribly wrong about 5.50pm. She also suffered minor cuts to her hands and chest as glass went flying.

She was in the Canberra Hospital in stable condition last night.

A convoy of emergency vehicles went to Science Road, Acton, with personnel assessing the scene and checking for contamination before the building was ventilated.

According to ACT Fire Brigade district officer Jim Schlizio, the student had been working inside a fume cupboard when the explosion happened. She went to dispose of her experiment when the chemicals involved combined with waste material from another experiment, sparking the blast.