WARSAW, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 150 people were evacuated from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow on Tuesday after solid picric acid, a highly explosive and flammable chemical, was discovered in a metallurgy laboratory.
The evacuation occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time. Fire service spokesperson Hubert Cieply confirmed that the jars of picric acid were found during lab cleaning. Specialized bomb disposal and hazardous materials teams were called to neutralize the substance.
Authorities are investigating how the chemical was stored and whether safety protocols were followed.
Emergency crews secured the area. University officials said classes in nearby buildings would resume once safety inspections were complete.
