Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This video – seen 50 million times less than 24 hours – shows the moment a restaurant explodes in a cloud of dust and debris after a gas cylinder blew up in the kitchen.
The violent blast has caused nine deaths and left 10 others hospitalised in the city of Wuxi in East China’s Jiangsu Province, officials reported.
The explosion happened at just past 11am local time on 13th October, with footage showing pedestrians scrambling for their lives as the restaurant’s wall is blown out.
The erupting gas cylinder guts the floor and kitchen of the small business on Xinyan Road in Wuxi’s Xishan District, with the shockwave shattering windows across the street and leaving numerous parked cars damaged by debris.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
More than 200 rescue workers were dispatched to the scene, where a total of 19 people were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
The Wuxi People’s Government said in a statement that nine had been confirmed dead, while the remaining 10 were in stable condition.
The casualties are understood to comprise restaurant staff, customers as well as nearby pedestrians.
A government-led clean-up operation to clear debris and rubble from the restaurant was still ongoing at the time of writing.
Video Credit: AsiaWire
The accident is thought to have been triggered by a gas leak and subsequent fire, but officials said they were still investigating the precise cause.
The incident comes just three days after a flyover carrying five vehicles collapsed onto a junction in the same city, crushing three cars and killing three people.
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