Two injured in explosion at Canterbury Uni

An explosion that injured two people at Canterbury University this afternoon is now being treated as a health and safety matter.

Emergency services were called to the sixth floor of the Rutherford Building at about 12:30pm, when it's believed a flask shattered during a purification exercise.

A male and female student are now being treated in Christchurch Hospital's Emergency Department for minor lacerations to the face and hands.

The University's response to the incident has now been scaled back to a Health and Safety matter, and they'll continue to monitor the students' progress.

Pro vice chancellor for Science, Professor Paul Fleming says a research student was making a compound when the accident happened.

"A flask that he was working with exploded but in a very minor way, but this had caused some injuries, as we understand it, to his hand when he was working with the equipment."

Another student received minor injuries to her neck.

Photo: Canterbury University (APN)