Tehran: A tragic explosion at Tehran University’s engineering and technical college on Thursday claimed the life of one individual and left four others injured, in what authorities believe was a hydrogen gas-related accident.
According to Iranian media reports, the incident occurred in the Amirabad neighborhood of the capital. Tehran Fire Department spokesman Jalal Maleki confirmed that the blast originated from a hydrogen gas capsule inside a laboratory at the university.
Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing a deafening blast followed by thick smoke rising from the campus. There was a loud boom, and then chaos. People were running out of the building, said a student who witnessed the incident.
The explosion reportedly ignited a fire in the laboratory, but emergency teams swiftly arrived at the scene and brought the blaze under control. Maleki assured that the situation is now stable, and a formal investigation is underway to determine the exact cause and whether there was any negligence involved.
Local news sources noted that the injured were promptly transferred to nearby hospitals, with two reportedly in critical condition.
This incident is the latest in a series of explosions and fires that have rattled Tehran in recent months many attributed to gas leaks or electrical faults. However, the use of highly flammable materials in educational and scientific settings has now raised fresh concerns over safety protocols in academic institutions.
Authorities have sealed off the affected lab for forensic examination, while university officials have pledged full cooperation with investigators. Calls for stricter safety measures in laboratories have been renewed by faculty members and students alike, to prevent future tragedies.