Special team to probe deadly restaurant blast

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has set up an investigation team to probe a deadly restaurant explosion in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, as cities across China conduct gas safety inspection work.

The team held its first meeting on Sunday, and Song Yuanming, head of the team and vice-minister of emergency management, gave a briefing on the investigation arrangements and the work requirements.

The blast, which killed 31 people and injured seven, occurred at around 8:40 pm on Wednesday in a barbecue restaurant in Xingqing district of Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia, due to a liquefied gas leak.

The meeting called for efforts to scientifically identify the cause of the explosion, accurately determine responsibility and swiftly eliminate any major risks or hazards.

Yinchuan police said in a statement released on Saturday that the replacement of a pressure reduction valve by unauthorized personnel caused the explosion.

The head of the barbecue restaurant, surnamed Hai, and a member of the staff, surnamed Li, violated safety management regulations by replacing the valve, which was connected to the liquefied gas tank, the police statement said. This resulted in the gas leak that triggered the explosion. Hai and Li were among those killed, the statement said.

The restaurant's legal representative and three shareholder controllers have been taken into criminal detention on suspicion of negligently causing a serious accident.

One of the seven people injured was treated for minor injuries at the hospital on the night of the blast and has returned home. The other six were hospitalized in stable condition, Ningxia Daily reported.

Meanwhile, local officials in Sichuan, Anhui and Hainan provinces, as well as the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, are conducting gas safety inspection work to eliminate potential dangers. They urged relevant agencies to immediately investigate and quickly rectify all safety risks and potential dangers, and effectively protect life and property.