17-7-2023 (BEIJING) A gas tank explosion at a barbecue restaurant in Yancheng city, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, killed one person and injured another on Monday, July 17. The incident has once again raised concerns over gas safety in China after a series of similar accidents last month. In June, a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwestern Ningxia region killed 31 people, one of the deadliest blasts in recent years, prompting President Xi Jinping to order officials to address safety risks across the country. Two other restaurant explosions followed in less than a week, including one in Gansu province that injured two.
In the wake of Monday’s blast, concerns and criticism resurfaced on China’s popular microblog site Weibo. “Have we not learned our lesson?” questioned one user. Accidents due to gas and chemical explosions are not uncommon in China, despite years of efforts to improve safety. “Those who run barbecue restaurants should all conduct self-checks,” said another user.
A clip posted online showed several destroyed storefronts in a two-storey commercial complex, as a person was wheeled away from the scene by rescuers. Debris and damaged trees were scattered across the street. The owner of the restaurant had been detained by police, and an investigation was underway.
