Restaurant gas blast in China, 31 died, read report
Nine people have been arrested over a blast at a barbecue diner in north-west China, killing at least 31 people.
A gas leak is supposed to have caused the blast in Yinchuan City on Wednesday night local time.
President Xi Jinping has asked for “all-out efforts” in the rescue and an inquiry into the explosion. State press said the owner of the Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant was among those in detention.
The blast took place on the eve of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival vacation in China, a period when many families and friends gather for celebratory dinners. Local press said several high school students and retirees were among the deceased.
The death toll is predicted to grow, with at least seven people injured, one of whom is critical, as the Xinhua media agency confirmed. President Xi Jinping has asked for maximum actions in treating the injured and boosting safety efforts.
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“We must do our best to rescue the injured and reassure the families of the casualties, identify the cause of the accident as soon as possible, and seriously pursue responsibility according to the law,” Mr Xi stated.
The restaurant is part of a group of eateries and amusement outlets in downtown Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia autonomous province.
State broadcaster CCTV aired a video of around a dozen firefighters combating the fire as smoke poured out of a gaping hole in the diner’s face. Shards of glass and other trash littered the lane.
Fire and rescue units sent more than 100 personnel and 20 cars to the scene, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. The rescue process lasted till 04:00 local time Thursday.
According to a preliminary inquiry by the fire unit, a restaurant worker had smelled a gas leak around an hour before the blast. Local press said that he found a broken valve on a liquefied gas tank and was replacing it when the explosion took place.
Source – BBC
