A student at Bournemouth University died after a "chemical incident" in residence halls. There were also concerns of a risk of explosion in the area.
Huffington Post U.K. reported that Dorset Police responded to a report of the death of a woman who looked to be in her 30s. Officials went to an address in the Bournemouth University Student Village in Poole. Residents were evacuated from the area after it was said that the home contained "unknown chemical substances." Police were said to have issued a warning about the potential for an explosion.
Bournemouth University student, Josh Wilde, 18, told The Daily Star that a policewoman warned them that there may be a chemical explosion. Another official also reportedly said that something flammable was leaking.
The school has confirmed the death of one of its students. Bournemouth University announced that the next of kin has been informed and that it is providing support for affected students. It also clarified that the incident has been isolated and that it will pose no risk to staff and students on campus.
Mirror noted that there was nothing suspicious behind the incident. The substances are in the process of being removed. The Sun added that the woman was a post-graduate student who was living in a single unit. Another student, Samuel Shaw, has said that the student community was left "shaken" after finding out about a fellow student's death.
Firefighters in protective clothing were seen removing a bin that contained the hazardous matter. It was not confirmed what the chemical substance was.
Meanwhile, U.K. Members of Parliament are on a hot debate about the effects of Brexit on higher education. University experts issued a warning on the damaging effects that a "hard Brexit" could have over the U.K.'s best industries.
University of Oxford's head of Brexit strategy Alastair Buchan said that Brexit would lead to high risks of damage on one of the nation's best industries. He described this industry as the "knowledge-based economy" in the country.
