Exploding iPad Forces Store to Evacuate

Electronics retailer Vodafone was recently forced to evacuate its store after an Apple iPad suddenly exploded. Luckily, no one was hurt by the blast.

The store is in Canberra, a city located halfway between Sydney and Melbourne in New South Wales, Australia. Reports suggest the device that exploded was a demo model, meaning it may have been running constantly throughout the day.

The explosion forced the store to quickly evacuate everyone inside. The local fire department was also alerted and arrived on the scene to find the store filled with smoke. The affected iPad was reportedly issuing sparks from its charging port.

It doesn't appear as though any Vodafone staff members or customers were hurt by the exploding iPad. (Source: com.au)

Precise Version of Guilty iPad Remains Unclear

At this moment it remains unclear what type of iPad burst into flames. Early reports suggested the device was an iPad Air, Apple's newest version of the iPad. (The device was unveiled at an October 22 press event and only recently went on sale.)

However, new reports suggest the device was an older version of the iPad. "It was an earlier generation iPad with Retina display model -- not one of the more recently launched devices," a Vodafone spokesperson told the media.

"Can confirm it was not an Air; all I know it was a Retina model, so a 3 or 4," a second Vodafone spokesperson said. "Apple has taken the device for investigation, so we won't know any more until they do." (Source: mashable.com)

Apple Investigation Continues

For its part Apple has not yet commented on the issue. An Apple representative reportedly visited the Vodafone store where the explosion took place to retrieve the faulty iPad. It's expected that Apple's tests of the device could take several days.

It's imperative that Apple clear the new iPad Air of any wrongdoing as soon as possible. Failing to do so could have a serious impact on sales of the new device.