Building Being Demolished Explodes Outward, Killing Girl

A building demolition went awry Sunday and exploded outward, showering onlookers with debris, killing a 12-year-old girl and injuring at least nine people.

Police said the girl, who was not identified, was among thousands of spectators crowded along a road across a lake, 400 yards from the Royal Canberra Hospital demolition site.

Instead of collapsing onto its own foundation, the building exploded outward and pelted the crowd with bricks, mortar and bits of metal. Pieces of rubble rained down on the crowd.