At least 31 people died on Wednesday night after an explosion caused by a gas leak ripped through a restaurant in the city of Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Autonomous Region, the state agency reported on Thursday. Xinhua News. The explosion occurred at around 8:40 p.m. (1240 GMT) on Wednesday on a busy street in Yinchuan's Xingqing district due to a gas leak at a barbecue restaurant, according to the agency.
Apart from the 31 deceased, another six people are now receiving treatment at a local hospital. According to the agency, the causes of the accident are under investigation. Two people suffered severe burns, two were slightly injured, and two others were hit by shards of glass.
The footage showed more than a dozen firefighters fighting smoke billowing from the huge hole created by the explosion. The street, which is home to other food and entertainment businesses, was covered in rubble.
The tragedy occurred the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, a three-day celebration where many Chinese gather with family and friends. Chinese President Xi Jinping demanded that all efforts be made to "care for the injured and strengthen safety supervision and management in key industries and sectors to effectively protect people's lives and property," he said. CCTV on Thursday.
The Emergency Management Ministry said local fire and rescue services sent more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene after the blast.
