Prague [Czech Republic], January 13: Six people have died and eight others were injured in an explosion that caused a fire in a restaurant in the Czech Republic overnight, authorities said on Sunday.
The injured were transported to the hospital or to a specialist clinic for burns in the capital Prague, the fire brigade said. Three of the injured were in critical condition, according to local media reports. Eyewitnesses said the fire started when a gas heater on a glass-enclosed outdoor terrace toppled over, causing its propane cylinder to ignite.
Emergency services noted that the flames spread with unusual speed and that further gas cylinders exploded during the firefighting operation. The accident occurred in a restaurant in the centre of the industrial city of Most, about 15 kilometres from the German border.
Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakusan wrote on X that about 30 people were able to escape to safety from the restaurant and neighbouring buildings.
A local news station reported that the restaurant was completely destroyed by the fire, with flames reaching heights of two to three metres. More than 60 firefighters, 10 ambulance teams and a rescue helicopter were deployed to the scene of the accident. When the emergency services arrived, large parts of the restaurant were already on fire, a fire brigade spokeswoman said.
She said a seriously injured guest who had been trapped in the toilet by the flames was rescued.
"I am deeply saddened by the tragedy in Most," Czech President Petr Pavel wrote on X.
Rakusan arrived in Most on Sunday. On the public radio station, he described a scene of destruction.
Police have launched an investigation into a suspected offence of endangering public safety. In the Czech Republic, this offence applies to anyone who negligently creates a risk to the lives or safety of many people or causes large-scale damage to others' property.
Rakusan said a structural engineer is to now check whether it is safe for the fire investigators to enter the building. A team of specialists is then to help identify the dead.
Source: Qatar Tribune
