Terrifying moment a live science experiment exploded at a Reno museum injuring 13 people, including seven children

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Terrifying moment a live science experiment exploded at a Reno museum injuring 13 people, including seven children
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Explosion occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum
Routine experiment that produces a 'smoke tornado' malfunctioned
Instead the chemicals used to create the smoke ignited a 'chemical flash'
Seven people were taken to hospital for 'minor to moderate' acid burns and four treated at the scene

Published: 23:33 EST, 3 September 2014 | Updated: 01:27 EST, 4 September 2014

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Officials at a Reno museum say a minor explosion at the facility Wednesday afternoon was caused by a live 'tornado storm' experiment that malfunctioned, burning over a dozen people with chemicals and starting a fire.

At least 13 people- seven of them children - were affected by the demonstration mishap at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum about 4.10pm.

Terrifying video purportedly showing the moment the chemicals - methyl alcohol and boric acid - ignited has since emerged, with numerous children sitting in front of the experiment fleeing in fear, according to KRNV News 4.

Nine of those affected were taken to hospital while the four others were treated at the scene.

Scroll down for video

Terrifying: This video - obtained by KRNV News 4 - purportedly shows the moment the experiment went awry, causing what fire officials described as a 'chemical flash'

The video appears the show part of the apparatus used in the experiment fall to the floor, where numerous children are sitting

Horrific: The footage shows children fleeing in fear from the flaming apparatus on the floor in front of them

Science experiment at museum leaves 13 people injured

The explosion is believed to have been caused by the incorrectly mixed chemicals.

The live exhibition was supposed to produce a whirling tornado effect, according to NBC.

However it instead caused what authorities described as a 'chemical flash'.

The video shows one lone female instructor conducting the experiment.

The footage was uploaded to Facebook by KRNV News 4 after a woman named Diane Thomas - who said she was in the room at the museum at the time - sent it into the station.

Police have not said what degree of burns were suffered by those injured.

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Reno Police officer Tim Broadway said the burns seemed to be isolated to the arms, hands and faces of the victims.

The museum was evacuated and Hazmat officers arrived at the scene to ensure the chemicals had not contaminated the air.

A statement released by the museum Wednesday night did not elaborate on what caused the explosion.

'The Discovery would like to thank our staff for their quick response during today's incident at the museum,' the statement said, according to ABC News.

'Their actions allowed first responders to attend to museum visitors in a timely manner.

Emergency: At least 13 people, including eight children, were injured after a science project mishap at the Discovery Museum in Reno on Wednesday

Firefighters confer out side the Nevada Discovery Museum in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday September 3, 2014. A minor explosion during a science experiment at the museum burned several children and forced the evacuation of the museum

Reno Fire officials said a demonstration that simulates a smoke tornado malfunctioned, which caused a 'flash' that 'entered' eight children, burning some of them, at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum

'We would like to express our gratitude to all first responders that were on the scene within minutes of the incident.

'Our thoughts continue to be with all those affected today.

'As this incident is still under investigation, we have no further updates at this time, but will release more information as it becomes available.'

The facility will be closed until further notice.