News of a devastating gas explosion at a BBQ restaurant in Ningxia’s Yinchuan, resulting in the loss of 31 lives, has made international headlines.
The explosion occurred on Wednesday evening around 20:30 at the Fuyang Barbecue Restaurant (富洋烧烤店), a well-known local chain in the city’s Xingqing district.
The incident happened just before the start of the Dragon Boat Festival, during peak dining hours when many people were dining out to relax on the night before the holiday. Immediate rescue efforts were launched.
In addition to the 31 fatalities, seven individuals were injured, one of whom is currently in critical condition. The victims include high school students and retired elderly individuals.
The fire at the Fuyang restaurant, image source.
A little after midnight, local authorities launched an investigation into the incident to determine the precise cause of the gas leak. The city later also announced wider inspections into gas safety hazards at other establishments.
Here are some important things to know about the Yinchuan deadly gas explosion.
Failure to recognize the odor of gas as potential hazard | After the deadly explosion, various media reported that the restaurant staff revealed that they had smelled gas leakage one hour prior. They were apparently aware that there was something wrong with the valve of the gas cylinder. However, instead of evacuating the guests, the restaurant was still operating normally at that time, and they only asked someone to buy a new valve. The explosion happened when they were replacing it.
After the gas cylinder on the first floor exploded, it triggered the explosion of the natural gas pipeline on the second floor, resulting in a powerful blast. Outside, people could see two members of staff run out the building and collapse shortly after the explosion. Most of the deceased allegedly died from suffocation, and many of those rescued were unconscious when they were carried out of the restaurant according to people involved in the rescue efforts.
Major evacuation | Local residents living in the vicinity of the Fuyang restaurant have been temporarily evacuated and relocated to hotels. This includes two residential buildings and a total of 64 households.
From local incident to national concern | The tragic explosion in Yinchuan transformed from a local incident to a national concern after Xi Jinping responded to it. Beyond offering condolences, the Chinese leader directed local authorities across the country to utilize the Dragon Boat Festival holiday as an opportunity to implement heightened safety controls and reinforce supervision in critical industries and areas.
Local authorities in Sichuan’s Neijiang (@内江消防) have posted photos showing safety inspections being carried out.
Heightened awareness | The incident has also heightened awareness regarding the potential hazards associated with BBQ restaurants. On Thursday night, videos showed how most customers at local restaurants chose to sit outside instead of inside (#银川爆炸事故第1晚顾客坐店外就餐#).
The deadly gas explosion in Yinchuan, killing 31, has had profound impact on the local community. After the incident, many customers at local (bbq) restaurants choose to sit outside, reflecting increased awareness about dangers of gas leakage & the importance of good ventilation. pic.twitter.com/R1waXqS34K
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) June 23, 2023
Nine individuals detained | On Thursday afternoon, it was reported that public security authorities detained nine individuals involved in the Yinchuan BBQ restaurant explosion, including the restaurant manager, shareholders, and members of staff, and their assets have been frozen.
Distrust in media | According to various Chinese media reports, the owner of Fuyang Barbecue restaurant, a local entrepreneur named Ma, allegedly deregistered the business overnight. These reports claim that Ma owns a total of nine companies, including five other BBQ restaurants, with a total asset value in the millions.
However, social media users have shared screenshots of the business registration, indicating that the restaurant had actually been canceled by owner Ma Yong on April 11, 2019. This cancellation occurred eight years after the initial registration of the Fuyang restaurant in question. Subsequently, the restaurant was registered again in 2019, and the ownership was transferred to Ma Yunlin. Due to the erroneous reporting by some state media outlets, many people have accused them of spreading “fake news” and raised suspicions about the deliberate twisting or alteration of details.
Local library closed | By now, the entire city of Yinchuan is undergoing a large-scale safety inspection. As a result of these inspections, the city library was compelled to close its doors on June 23rd due to significant safety hazards. The library, which has been in operation for over thirty years, will temporarily suspend all of its services. People are advised to return any borrowed reading materials to designated locations.
By Manya Koetse
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