Firefighters work at the scene of an explosion in Yinchuan, China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 21, 2023
At least 31 people died China After an explosion caused by a gas leak at a restaurant in the northwest city of Yinchuan, state media reported Thursday. “A liquefied petroleum gas leak caused an explosion during the opening hours of a steakhouse,” state news agency Xinhua said, adding that seven people were receiving medical treatment, including one in “critical” condition, and that two people suffered burns. two had minor injuries and two had scratches from broken glass. Nine people, including the restaurant’s owners, were arrested by police after the blast, state broadcaster CCTV reported. “According to the law, public security agencies have arrested nine people, including the restaurant’s owner, shareholders and employees (…) and frozen their assets,” CCTV said, citing the Communist Party Regional Committee as a source. The explosion happened around 20:40 (9:00 GMT) on Wednesday at the “Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant” in a residential area in central Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Autonomous Region.
CCTV footage showed several firefighters working at the scene when smoke was billowing from a large hole in the restaurant’s facade. Broken glass and other debris littered the street, which is also home to several other restaurants and entertainment venues. The Ministry of Emergency Management said local fire and rescue services dispatched more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene after the blast. The local authorities demanded “immediately to organize all search and rescue operations, to treat the injured appropriately and to keep the number of deaths as low as possible,” the ministry said. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “every effort in treating the injured and strengthening security monitoring and management in key sectors and areas to effectively protect people’s lives and property,” CCTV reported Thursday. Explosions and other deadly incidents are relatively common in China due to some disregard for safety regulations in the construction sector, resulting in conditions that make it difficult to escape in the event of a fire. Three people died this month after firecrackers exploded in apartment buildings in the northern city of Tinajin.
*With information from AFP