Generator explodes at Cal Berkeley

Campus evacuated; injuries, power outage reported

9/30/2013

LOS ANGELES — Several people suffered minor injuries due to an explosion on Monday in an outdoor electrical vault at the University of California, Berkeley, and officials evacuated the campus due to a power outage, a school spokesman said.

The explosion occurred on the north side of California Hall in the center of the campus, Dan Mogulof said.

Only one of the people injured was taken to a hospital, Mogulof said. The explosion appears to have been caused by damage to the university's electrical system caused by vandals stealing copper wiring, he said.

The vandalism was first discovered late last week, Mogulof said. “It now appears the damage the vandals caused was far more extensive than we could see or assess at the time,” he said.

Officials have not determined when they will be able to re-open the campus to students, he said.