New Delhi: At least 31 people were killed and seven others injured after a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in China’s Yinchuan on the eve of the Drago Boat festival on Wednesday, news agency AFP reported. "A leak of liquefied petroleum gas... caused an explosion during the operation of a barbecue restaurant," state news agency Xinhua said. Nine people, including the owner of the restaurant, have been detained.
In the wake of the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue and treatment of the injured people and also conduct a safety review and boost safety supervision in key sectors.
According to reports, the gas explosion took place when the chef was replacing the valve on the tank after the staff reported leakage.
As per a report by CNN, among the seven people who sustained injuries, one person is still in critical condition and the other six are being treated for minor injuries, burns and glass cuts.
The Ministry of Emergency Management said the local fire and rescue personnel dispatched more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene in the wake of the explosion.
Several high school students and retirees were among those who were killed, according to local media. The restaurant is part of a cluster of eateries and entertainment venues in Yinchuan.
It is to be noted that the incident came just before China kicked off its three-day national public holiday, from Thursday to Saturday, marking the Dragon Boat Festival.
China has also reported a number of fatal incidents this year, which included a mining accident in February in the Inner Mongolia region killing 53 people. It was followed by fire in a Beijing hospital in April in which 29 people were killed.