On the evening of March 20, an explosion occurred in an electron microscope laboratory on the Science City campus of Chongqing University. One student has been confirmed dead and three students were injured. The laboratory equipment was significantly damaged and bloodstains were found on the ground.
According to a report from CCTV News App, authorities from relevant departments revealed that on the evening of March 20, an explosion took place in a laboratory at Chongqing University, resulting in the death of one student and injuries to three others.
On the evening of March 21, Chongqing University issued an incident report: at 19:05 on March 20, a laboratory at the Huxi campus of the Science City campus experienced a safety accident, leading to the death of one student despite rescue efforts, and injuring three students. Preliminary investigations suggest that improper operation may have triggered the explosion of experimental materials.
As reported by “Cover News,” a student at the university disclosed that the incident occurred in the electron microscope laboratory on campus, suspecting that the explosion was caused by experimental equipment.
Photos from the scene showed bloodstains at the entrance of the laboratory, with visible damages and shattered marks on the interior equipment.
According to “JiMu News,” the specialized Electron Microscope Center at Chongqing University’s Huxi campus was officially inaugurated in November 2015. The center had received a total investment of 120 million yuan, featuring nearly 20 large-scale electron analysis and characterization equipment, along with well-equipped sample preparation facilities, including the world’s most advanced equipment like the FEI TitanChemiSTEM aberration-corrected electron microscope and 3D atomic probe.
On March 19, the center had issued a notice regarding safety training for the laboratory at the Electron Microscope Center in Huxi.
It was reported that on the evening of March 21, multiple attempts to call the phone number listed on the official website of Chongqing University’s Electron Microscope Center went unanswered.
A Weibo user named “Ji Guang Pian Yu-v” expressed: “It’s too terrible, may the teachers and students be safe, and let the safety alarm ring persistently.”
Several Weibo users commented, expressing their sadness and emphasizing the importance of laboratory safety management at universities.