WEB DESK
At least 31 people were killed and several others injured when an explosion ripped through a restaurant in the northwestern city of Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia autonomous region.
A leak of liquefied petroleum gas caused an explosion during the operation of a barbecue restaurant last evening, state news agency Xinhua said, citing the regional Communist Party committee.
Shards of glass and other debris littered the darkened street, which is also home to a number of other eateries and entertainment venues. Chinese President Xi Jinping demanded all-out efforts in treating the wounded and the strengthening of safety supervision and management in key industries and fields to effectively protect people’s lives and property. The Ministry of Emergency Management said local fire and rescue services dispatched more than 100 people and 20 vehicles to the scene in the wake of the blast.