Horrific disaster in China: 31 people were killed and dozens more injured Thursday when a gas balloon exploded at a grill restaurant in the Muslim province of Ningxia Hui in the northeast of the country.
The explosion took place in the city of Yanchuan, the capital of the Muslim Autonomous Region, in the center of a grill restaurant packed with diners, while guests sat around a large grill that exploded, causing severe blast and shrapnel damage. Large firefighters and rescue teams arrived at the scene fearing a fire could spread in the area, but the fire from the explosion was quickly extinguished.
The scene of the explosion at a restaurant in Ningxia Province, China
The restaurant where the explosion took place is considered one of the most popular in the city and a regular gathering place for high school and local university students. China's South China Morning Post reported that at least some of those killed were high school students. In addition, seven people are hospitalized in serious condition due to glass shrapnel.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an investigation into the incident and urged authorities to carry out necessary safety checks. The explosion comes towards the end of the first week of the Dragon Boat Festival, when millions of tourists in northern China took to the roads for recreation.
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