By Ray Gronberg
The Herald-Sun (Durham, N.C.)

DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University officials confirmed that one person is dead following an explosion in the basement of the Levine Science Research Center on campus.

Duke spokesman Keith Lawrence said that school officials are not releasing the identify of the victim, who is a male. He said the explosion happened in the mechanical room of the research center.

Investigators and fire officials are still assessing the situation. Duke spokesman Karl Bates said that about 3 p.m. there was a "release of steam in the basement of the Levine Center."

The building and surrounding area have been the scene of work on steam lines running through the area of Duke's power plant.

About 3:30 p.m. bystanders observed what they said was "a lot of steam" coming out of one of the building's stacks. That had stopped by about 4 p.m.

"A lot of people felt the building shudder and got out, which, if you work in a laboratory building, it's a good idea," Bates said.

A half dozen units from the Durham Fire Department were on the scene along with Duke University police and other emergency workers.

All power to the building has been cut off, according to Bates. That means that most, if not all, of the experiments that were being conductd inside will be ruined.

Asked if there was a fire inside the building, Bates said, "Not that I know of."

Investigators entered the building shortly after 4 p.m. They said they would brief the media after they had a chance to look over the situation.

The Levine Research Science Center is a 341,000-square-foot, multipurpose facility housing classrooms, laboratory space and offices shared by the Nicholas School of the Environment, Pratt School of Engineering, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and the departments of Computer Science, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology and Cell and Molecular Biology.

Copyright 2008 The Herald-Sun