About 30 persons died in a gas explosion incident on Wednesday night in northwestern China.  

The explosion, which happened at about 8:40 p.m., affected a two-storey restaurant in Yinchuan, the capital of the Ningxia region, China.

The firefighters rushed to the scene, where thick smoke was pouring out of the buildings and the street was covered in shattered glass. 

The firefighters pulled out the fire, which had already wreaked havoc on the building and caused the death of dozens of people. 

China news agency Xinhua said 20 people were killed and injured without any information on the possibility of more death victims. 

The country’s ministry of emergency management said the search and rescue of the victims at the restaurant was completed on Thursday morning.

Chinese President Xi Jinping condoled with the deceased’s family, assuring the citizens of the country that measures will be taken to safeguard citizens against fire accidents. 

He urged officials to ascertain the cause of the fire gas explosion so perpetrators could be prosecuted. 

Mr Xi demanded that “all regions and related departments should screen for and rectify all types of risks and hidden dangers.”