An ‘inventory’ by the new chemistry teacher ensured that the ‘evacuation bells’ rang in Lower Austria on Thursday afternoon. An acid developed in the laboratory into a highly explosive substance. Eighty students and ten construction workers were evacuated for hours and the Ministry of the Interior’s harmlessness service arrived.
The new chemistry teacher at the high school Groß Siegharts was surprised when she opened the cupboard with the materials in the chemistry classroom. She discovered in the laboratory a vial containing picric acid, which is relatively harmless in liquid form but highly explosive when dry. The police, rescue brigade and fire brigade were alerted around 12.45 pm. The Florianis arrived with thirty members, including some pollution experts.
The dismantling service was called
After 80 students and ten construction workers working on the renovation of the school were brought to safety, the situation was further investigated and fire protection was set up. Additional chemical experts from the fire brigade and police were also called in. After consultation and risk assessment, the Ministry of the Interior’s harmless service was finally called and arrived around 3 p.m.
Chemical waste removed
The specialists ensured safe storage of the picric acid and disposed of the chemical. The operation was completed around 4 p.m. After the evacuation, the students were released into the care of their parents. In addition to the Groß Siegharts fire brigade, which led the operation, members of the pollutant group from the entire Waidhofen an der Thaya district were on duty.
Source: Krone
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