THERE were controlled blasts at two schools and a college in Carmarthenshire after it was found that chemicals on the sites were “unstable and liable to explosion” by the authorities this week.
The blasts follow controlled explosions at Gower College and Swansea University, after education establishments were asked to audit their chemicals.
The explosions were carried out by bomb disposal experts at QE High, Ysgol Gyfyn Emlyn and Coleg Sir Gar’s Graig campus.
Speaking about the controlled explosions, a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “As a result of guidance issued nationally, Dyfed-Powys Police has contacted schools, colleges and other partners with information about the safe storage of a chemical known as 2,4 Dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNP).
“Schools and colleges who have DNP in their science laboratories have been advised to check the state of chemicals stored and to contact CLEAPSS (Consortium of Local Education Authorities for the Provision of Science Equipment) in the first instance, who can advise if the chemical is considered hazardous and needs to be disposed.
“If it is necessary to dispose of the chemical police can then assist with arranging this with the appropriate body.”
QE High posted a message on Facebook which stated: “Along with other schools and colleges across Wales and England, Queen Elizabeth High School was alerted this morning that a particular chemical used in A level chemistry called 2,4-DNP may be unstable and liable to explosion.
“Following advice from the police, a small stock of this material was removed from the school and destroyed in a controlled explosion by the Army at 3.20pm today.
“The classrooms adjacent to the locked chemical store were taken out of use for the day as a safety precaution.
“This had no impact upon the smooth and safe running of the school.”
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