A chemical explosion at a museum in Reno, Nev., left at least 13 people injured Wednesday. Presenters at the museum were demonstrating a smoke tornado through a chemical reaction that resulted in the minor explosion at the Terry Less Wells Discovery Museum.
Eight children and an adult were rushed to Renown Regional Medical Center, while four people were treated and discharged, according to Tim Broadway, Reno police spokesman.
The details related to the ages of children were not revealed and according to Reuters, no child was involved in the production of the accident. The doctors said the injuries were not life-threatening.
Authorities said a mixture of methyl alcohol and boric acid mixture was used during the routine exhibition to make a whirling tornado effect.
"The injuries were the result of a mishap of a routine museum demonstration that simulates a tornado," the city's statement said Wednesday night, reports the Associated Press. "Reno Fire Department investigators are working with museum staff to determine what caused the chemical flash."
According to the reports, the first two experiments conducted in the museum for the day went without problems and for the third experiment the presenters added alcohol.
Keri Koeckes and her 8-year-old son were watching the demonstration with her friend's daughter when the accident happened.
"It was scary. I'm still shaken up by it," Koeckes told the Reno-Gazette Journal. "You didn't expect it to happen. I feel so bad for the families who were affected." As she was staying in the back, she said she saw how the fire spread in a circle. At the time, the audience was sitting on the floor of the museum.
Mat Sinclair, executive director for The Discovery, issued a statement reading, "Our primary focus right now is on Discovery patrons and their safety. All those affected by today's incident continue to be in our thoughts and we are committed to determining the cause of this incident."
