CHIAN: No deaths in restaurant gas exposion, spokesman says

Record ID: 359210

  • Title: CHIAN: No deaths in restaurant gas exposion, spokesman says
  • Date: 26th September 2009
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2009) (REUTERS) POLICE CORDON AND FIRETRUCKS AT ACCIDENT SITE POLICE OFFICERS BLOCKING OFF STREET SOLDIER, POLICEMEN AND FIREMEN NEAR FIRETRUCK SOLDIER STANDING ON GUARD PEOPLE LOOKING ON FIREMEN AT THE SITE DEDICATED INCIDENT SPOKESMAN FU HUA ARRIVING AT THE SITE POLICE OFFICER TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEDICATED INCIDENT
  • Embargoed: 11th October 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVA77FJPBS73T0I2QD5E4771OYL6
  • Story Text: An explosion at a central Beijing restaurant was caused by gas and no-one died in the incident, a spokesman says, as police seal off the accident site.
    A blast that destroyed a restaurant in a busy neighbourhood of central Beijing on Friday (September 25) was caused by an exploding gas cylinder and no-one died in the incident, an accident spokesman said.
    Police moved to seal off the area soon after the explosion happened in the morning, with soldiers and police officers blocking entry to the street where the restaurant was located.
    Firemen and cleaners could be seen working at the site, where shattered glass from store windows littered the street.
    Spokesman Fu Hua said five people had been injured in the accident.
    They were being treated at the hospital but the injuries were not serious, he added.
    "At 09:10 this morning, a restaurant on Xinjiekou Street of Xicheng District had a gas explosion, which caused damage to buildings. Five restaurant workers were injured and sent to a hospital but none of them are in a life-threatening condition," dedicated incident spokesman Fu Hua said.
    Earlier, reports citing witnesses at the site said several people may have died in the blast.
    But Fu said there had been no deaths and rejected speculation about the Muslim restaurant having been targeted.
    "No deaths. It is a normal restaurant, a commonplace restaurant. There might have been some Uighurs but it is a normal restaurant," he said.
    Pictures on the Internet of the destroyed restaurant in the Xinjiekou area, in the northwest portion of the historic central city, showed decorations typical of small local Muslim restaurants. The restaurant served food from Kashgar, a city in Xinjiang, a restive region on China's western frontier.
    Beijing has been tightening security ahead of the Oct. 1 National Day, when the Communist Party will hold a military parade in the capital to celebrate 60 years of rule over mainland China.
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