Massive Gas Explosion at Barbecue Restaurant in China Kills 31, Injures 7
HONG KONG (AP) — A devastating cooking gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, China, has left 31 people dead and seven others injured. The explosion occurred on Wednesday evening, just hours before the start of the Dragon Boat Festival, a long holiday weekend.
The blast occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. on a busy street in Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restaurant was packed with people who had gathered to celebrate the festival. Many victims were left unconscious and had to be carried out of the shop, according to The Paper, an online news site.
The explosion was caused by a broken gas tank valve, which was being replaced by an employee at the time of the blast. An hour before the explosion, employees had noticed the smell of cooking gas, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered a national safety campaign in response to the tragedy. He has called for urgent medical care for the injured and a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. President Xi also emphasized the need for accountability and urged all regions and related departments to address safety risks and launch campaigns to promote workplace safety.
Nine people, including the owner of the restaurant, shareholders, and employees, have been detained by authorities. Their assets have been frozen, according to Xinhua.
The restaurant where the explosion occurred is part of the Fuyang Barbecue chain, known for its grilled skewers and stir-fried dishes. The two-floor restaurant had seating for 20 people on the ground floor and private dining rooms on the second floor.
Videos on social media showed rescuers using ladders to reach victims on the second floor, while others with minor injuries waited for help at the side of the road. The search and rescue operation was completed early Thursday morning, and investigators are now working to determine the exact cause of the blast.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a popular holiday in Yinchuan, where the majority of the population is Han Chinese, with a significant Muslim Hui minority. The festival is traditionally celebrated with rice dumplings and boat races.
Industrial accidents like this are unfortunately common in China, often attributed to poor government supervision, corruption, cost-cutting measures by employers, and inadequate safety training for employees. The Chinese government has pledged to strengthen safety measures following previous incidents, including a chemical warehouse explosion in Tianjin in 2015 that killed 173 people.
As the nation mourns the victims of this tragic incident, President Xi’s call for a national safety campaign highlights the urgent need for improved safety standards and measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
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AP video producer Penny Wang in Bangkok contributed to this report.
What are the potential factors that led to the tragic gas explosion at the popular barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, China?
A tragic gas explosion at a popular barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, China has resulted in the deaths of 31 people and left 7 others injured. The incident took place on the evening of Wednesday, just before the start of a long holiday weekend called the Dragon Boat Festival.
The explosion occurred at around 8:40 p.m. on a busy street in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restaurant was packed with people who had gathered to celebrate the festival. Reports suggest that many victims were rendered unconscious and had to be carried out of the restaurant.
The cause of the explosion was a broken gas tank valve, which was undergoing replacement by one of the restaurant’s employees at the time of the blast. It has been reported that an hour prior to the explosion, employees had noticed the smell of cooking gas.
In response to this tragic event, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a national safety campaign. He has emphasized the urgency of providing medical care to the injured and thorough investigations into the incident.
