Another BBQ eatery shredded by blast

A blast at an eatery in eastern Jiangsu province killed one and wounded another yesterday, local officials said, reigniting public concerns about the safety of cooking gas tanks after a series of similar accidents last month.

A tank at a barbecue restaurant exploded at 6.02 am, authorities of Yancheng city in Jianhu county said.

The owner of the restaurant has been detained by police, they said, and an investigation is underway.

The blast comes less than a month after a gas explosion at a barbecue eatery killed 31 in northwestern Ningxia region, one of the deadliest blasts in recent years, prompting President Xi Jinping to order officials to address safety risks across the country.

Two other restaurant explosions followed in less than a week, including one in Gansu province that injured two.

After yesterday's incident, concerns and criticism resurfaced on Weibo.

"Have we not learned our lesson?" questioned one user.

Accidents due to gas and chemical explosions are not uncommon in China despite years of efforts to improve safety.

"Those who run barbecue restaurants should all conduct self-checks," said another user.