BEIJING(AP)-China’s president has taken immediate action by ordering a comprehensive safety campaign throughout the country after a massive cooking gas explosion occurred at a barbecue restaurant in the northwest region, claiming the lives of 31 individuals and injuring seven others on the eve of a significant holiday weekend.
The devastating blast erupted at approximately 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, engulfing the restaurant situated on a bustling street in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, where locals had gathered in anticipation of the Dragon Boat Festival, as reported by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying incident, sharing that the explosion left numerous individuals unconscious, necessitating their rescue from the premises. The Paper, an online news outlet, cited a member of the search and rescue team who provided details about the victims, including elderly individuals and high school students.
According to Xinhua, an hour before the explosion occurred, restaurant employees detected the odor of cooking gas and discovered a broken valve on a gas tank. Tragically, the blast happened while an employee was in the process of replacing the damaged valve.
Expressing deep concern for the injured, Chinese President Xi Jinping urgently called for their medical treatment and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident, emphasizing the need for accountability under the law. President Xi also urged all regions and relevant departments to address various risks and hidden dangers while launching initiatives to promote workplace safety.
During a press conference held on Thursday, the deputy party chief of Yinchuan offered apologies to the entire city’s population, as reported by the news site Huanqiu.com. Participants in the conference solemnly bowed their heads in a moment of silence.
Authorities have detained nine individuals, including the restaurant owner, shareholders, and employees, while also freezing their assets, according to Xinhua.
The explosion occurred at a branch of Fuyang Barbecue, a renowned restaurant chain in Yinchuan known for its delicious grilled skewers and stir-fried dishes, The Paper stated. The two-story establishment could accommodate 20 patrons on the ground floor and featured private dining rooms on the second floor, where customers could enjoy karaoke as well.
A video circulated on the Douyin social media platform depicted rescuers utilizing ladders to reach victims on the second floor. Meanwhile, individuals with minor injuries could be seen waiting for assistance on the roadside. Additional videos captured the presence of at least six fire trucks at the scene, with some onlookers visibly distraught.
A staff member at the emergency clinic of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University confirmed that some victims were receiving treatment there, although further details were withheld.
The Paper interviewed a witness identified only as Chen, who revealed that she was approximately 50 meters (160 feet) away from the restaurant when the explosion occurred. Chen recounted seeing two waiters emerging from the establishment, with one of them collapsing immediately. The surrounding area was engulfed in thick smoke, accompanied by a strong smell of cooking gas.
The Ministry of Emergency Management, representing the central government, stated via social media that search and rescue operations at the restaurant were successfully completed early Thursday morning. Currently, investigators are diligently working to ascertain the root cause of the explosion.
While the majority of Yinchuan’s population is of Han Chinese descent, approximately one-third consists of Hui people, the Chinese Muslim community. The Dragon Boat Festival, a holiday dedicated to consuming rice dumplings and participating in boat races with teams of paddlers, was being eagerly anticipated by the locals.
Regrettably, industrial accidents similar to this one have become distressingly common in China, often attributed to inadequate government supervision, corruption, cost-cutting measures implemented by employers, and insufficient safety training for employees.
Just recently, a petrochemical plant explosion claimed the lives of nine individuals, and three others perished in a helicopter crash during the country’s May Day holiday. Additionally, in February, a catastrophic collapse at a massive open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia resulted in the deaths of 53 miners, leading to numerous arrests. Similarly, in November, a fire at an industrial trading company in central China claimed the lives of 38 people, resulting in the detainment of four individuals.
Since the tragic explosion at a chemical warehouse in the northern port city of Tianjin in 2015, which caused the deaths of 173 individuals, predominantly firefighters and police officers, the central government has made commitments to implement stronger safety measures. Several local officials involved in that incident faced accusations of accepting bribes to overlook safety violations.
