Three students aged nine were injured, two of them seriously, after an explosion during a chemistry experiment outside a school in Porqueres, in the province of Girona (Catalonia), authorities said on Wednesday.
Emergency services received the alert at 10.47am and firefighters dispatched three units to the scene at the Entorn School, which caters to pupils aged between three and 16.
According to local emergency services, the explosion occurred during a chemistry experiment taking place outside the school building.
All three injured children suffered burns. Two of them – a boy and a girl – were taken in serious condition to Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. One was airlifted by medical helicopter, while the other was transported by ambulance.
The third child, who sustained less serious injuries, was taken to Josep Trueta Hospital in Girona.
Emergency responders launched a large operation, deploying two medical helicopters, five ambulances and a team of psychologists from the Emergency Medical Services to assist students and staff affected by the incident.
Authorities said that aside from the three injured children, the rest of the students and school staff were unharmed.
The Porqueres local council urged members of the public to stay away from the area while emergency teams worked at the site.
Investigators are now working to determine the cause of the explosion.
It is not the first time the province has seen a similar scientific accident. In September 2022, 18 people were injured when a liquid nitrogen drum exploded during a science outreach event in Girona.
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“Ha estat un accident amb un experiment de laboratori que es feia a l’exterior.”
— 3CatInfo (@3CatInfo) March 11, 2026
L’alcalde de Porqueres, Francesc Castañer, diu que s’ha activat el suport psicològic a l’escola del poble arran de l’explosió que ha ferit 3 menors https://t.co/HR1P9sZ7zU pic.twitter.com/EdMgbzJmCP
🔴 Una explosió durant un experiment de química a una escola de Porqueres deixa 3 menors ferits.
— RTVE Notícies (@rtvenoticies) March 11, 2026
Dos dels infants es troben en estat greu i han estat traslladats amb helicòpter a la Vall d’Hebron | @MartnRiera
➕ Info: https://t.co/RPTrXKCKTv pic.twitter.com/CQS0hsD4WR
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