Apple's iPad explodes at Amsterdam store, place evacuated
In what is reminiscent of Samsung's exploding Galaxy Note 7, an iPad reportedly exploded at Apple's Amsterdam store resulting in the store being evacuated and firefighters being called. While no one was injured, three people had to be treated for respiratory problems. Notably, there have been a handful of such incidents with Apple products of late. Here are the details.
A local media outlet tweeted about the incident
Details about the incident in Amsterdam
It's believed that the iPad explosion was a result of a leaky or overheated battery. While it's unclear whether the device burst into flames, local media outlets reported that Apple employees at the store were quick to react, and placed the iPad in a container full of sand. Chemical vapors emitted from the damaged device are believed to have caused the aforementioned respiratory issues.
Two incidents of exploding iPhones were reported this year
Since Apple started its battery replacement program in December last year, apparently unrelated issues have caused a couple of explosions this year. In early January, the battery of an iPhone 6S Plus exploded in an Apple Store in Zurich, Switzerland, leading to the store being evacuated and emergency services being called. A day after the Zurich incident, a similar explosion occurred in Valencia, Spain.
What's with the exploding batteries?
Like most smartphone and tablet manufacturers, Apple uses rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. Despite being safe otherwise, these batteries are prone to exploding if the thin, internal polypropylene layer is breached, or the inflammable electrolyte inside the battery gets too hot. These situations might arise owing to a production error, damage, design flaws, unofficial chargers, or just plain bad luck.
