A tragic gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, a city in the northwest Ningxia region of China, has left at least 31 people dead and seven others injured, CNN reports.
The incident occurred on June 21 and was caused by a leak from a liquified gas tank inside the restaurant. The explosion took place around 8:40 p.m., as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. Local authorities and emergency services responded promptly to the incident, dispatching 20 vehicles and over 100 personnel to the scene. Search and rescue operations continued until 4 a.m. morning of June 22.
Among the injured, one person remains in critical condition, while the other six are receiving treatment at a local hospital for minor injuries, burns, and cuts caused by shattered glass.
Photographs released by state media depict the damaged restaurant, with its exteriors blackened, debris scattered on the ground, and smoke filling the air. Firefighters can be seen entering the building on ladders and carrying out injured individuals on stretchers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his grief over the tragedy, calling it "heartbreaking" and emphasizing the need for lessons to be learned from the incident. He issued instructions to the authorities present at the scene, urging them to prioritize the treatment of the injured, strengthen safety supervision, and ensure the well-being of residents.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the police and firefighters revealed that two restaurant staff members had detected the smell of gas approximately an hour prior to the explosion. Upon inspection, they discovered a broken valve on the gas tank and sent another employee to purchase a replacement. Unfortunately, the explosion occurred during the valve replacement process.
Authorities have taken swift action in response to the incident. Nine individuals, including the restaurant's manager, employees, and shareholders, have been detained, and their assets are frozen, as reported by state media outlet China Youth Daily.
The restaurant is situated on a bustling street in Yinchuan, amplifying the impact of the explosion. The tragedy struck just before the start of China's three-day national public holiday, which commemorates the Dragon Boat Festival and runs from June 22 to June 24.
This incident adds to a series of safety-related incidents that have shaken China this year. In February, a coal mine collapse in Inner Mongolia claimed the lives of 53 workers, and in April, a devastating fire at a hospital in Beijing resulted in the deaths of 29 people, making it the deadliest fire the city had experienced in two decades.
Comments (0)