A huge cooking gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in north-west China has killed 31 people and left seven injured.
The blast ripped through a building on a busy street in Yinchuan at around 8.40pm local time yesterday following a suspected gas leak.
More than 100 personnel from fire and rescue services and 20 vehicles were sent to the scene for the operation, which lasted until around 4am.
High school students and retirees are reportedly among the dead.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including the owner of the Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant, according to state media reports.
The fatal explosion happened on the eve of the three-day Dragon Boat Festival – a national holiday celebrated across China by relatives who gather to eat rice dumplings and race boats manned by teams of paddlers.
A woman, identified only by her surname Chen, said she was about 50 metres from the restaurant when she heard the explosion.
She reportedly saw two waiters emerge shortly afterwards, one of whom collapsed as thick black smoke billowed from the restaurant and a strong smell of gas permeated the area.
Full Link ( Here )
© Copyrights RawNews1st
