In the wake of a devastating explosion at a barbecue restaurant in Yinchuan, the capital of China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, President Xi Jinping has called for immediate rescue efforts, comprehensive treatment of the injured, and a thorough safety overhaul. Local authorities have confirmed that the death toll from the gas blast has risen to 31 as of Thursday.
Following the incident on Wednesday night, rescue teams and an investigation group were swiftly established to provide medical assistance to the victims and address the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Public security authorities have taken control of nine individuals, including the manager, shareholders, and employees of the affected restaurant, and have frozen their assets. Additionally, the local government has temporarily relocated residents from nearby buildings to nearby hotels.
In response to the emergency, the National Health Commission has dispatched the national emergency medical rescue team to provide treatment to the wounded. National-level burn and critical care experts have also been sent to Yinchuan to offer their assistance and support.
The explosion, which occurred at approximately 8:40 pm in the Xingqing district of Yinchuan, was caused by a gas leak from the operating area of the barbecue restaurant. Firefighters were able to extinguish the resulting fire by 9:20 pm on Wednesday.
Out of the 38 reported casualties, 31 people have tragically lost their lives despite the rescue efforts, while seven individuals, including one in critical condition, are currently receiving medical treatment, according to local authorities.
Yinchuan’s mayor, Tao Shaohua, expressed his deep regret and apologized during a press conference on Thursday night, stating that this was the most severe safety accident to occur in Ningxia in recent years.
As of Thursday morning, the vital signs of the seven individuals receiving treatment were reported to be stable. The local government has also organized a team of 20 psychological medical specialists to provide counseling to the victims and their families.
Witnesses described the sequence of events, noting that the gas tank on the first floor of the restaurant initially exploded, followed by the detonation of the gas pipeline on the second floor, causing the staircase between the floors to collapse.
According to reports from the public security and fire departments, an employee of the restaurant had detected a gas leak about an hour before the explosion and discovered that the valve of the liquefied gas tank was broken. Subsequently, the restaurant manager went out to purchase a new valve. Tragically, the explosion occurred during the process of replacing the valve upon the manager’s return.
In response to the incident, Yinchuan will conduct a comprehensive safety overhaul throughout the entire city over the course of the next month, as announced by an official during the press conference.