China: Deadly Gas Explosion Kills 7, Injures 27

 A deadly explosion that occurred in a building in Yanjiao town, China, on Wednesday left seven people dead and twenty-seven injured. The number of people killed in the incident that occurred in Yanjiao, which is east of Beijing, has increased from two to seven, according to the most recent notice released by the local authorities. At 7:54 a.m. on Wednesday, a fried chicken restaurant in Yanjiao, Sanhe City, in the Hebei Province of North China experienced an explosion that is believed to have been caused by a gas leak. The explosion severely damaged a number of nearby buildings.

Local fire, emergency, and medical teams responded swiftly to the scene of the incident, as reported by Global Times, to handle the situation. The fire department said in a statement that they had contained the fire by 10 a.m. after receiving a call at 7:55 a.m. reporting the explosion. Global Times reported that as of 1:30 pm, 28 people had been retrieved from the scene. Yanjiao is a satellite town east of Beijing that serves as a hub for many people who commute from Beijing to work in Beijing. The accident holds significant importance for the National Health Commission (NHC).

As soon as the accident happened, it got in touch with the Hebei Province Health Commission and asked that provincial medical experts be sent right away to the scene to handle emergency medical care, according to Global Times. Additionally, qualified specialists have been dispatched to consult with the hospitals caring for the injured, assisting in the evaluation of each patient’s injuries and the creation of personalized treatment regimens. As reported by CCTV on Wednesday afternoon, the NHC promised to continue directing the medical and psychological care of the injured and to send professionals to offer assistance as soon as it is required.

The four-story building collapsed following the explosion, and glass from the building broke into nearby buildings, according to the live footage of the incident. It left debris strewn across the ground and further damaged cars on the road. Along with various degrees of damage, the building directly across from the explosion site also had glass and other debris occasionally falling from it.

Furthermore, since the start of the year, there have been numerous safety incidents in different regions of China, including dust explosions, fires in school dormitories, explosions from lithium batteries in electric cars, gas explosions from coal mines, and other mishaps with differing degrees of casualties. Thirty-one people were killed in a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in the northwest region of Ningxia last June. In order to reduce safety risks, Chinese market regulators released comprehensive guidelines on the use of gas appliances and cookers after that explosion.