A powerful explosion ripped through a restaurant in the central South Korean city of Cheongju early Monday, injuring 15 people and causing widespread damage to the surrounding commercial district. Authorities believe the blast was caused by the detonation of two liquefied petroleum gas cylinders inside the facility.
The restaurant, located on the ground floor of a three-story commercial building, was closed at the time of the incident. Local news agency Yonhap reported that the force of the blast sent debris into the street and shattered windows in neighboring structures. The shockwave was strong enough to overturn a vehicle parked nearby.
Residents shaken by blast
Local residents reported hearing a deafening boom that many initially mistook for an earthquake or a bomb. One man, a resident in his 50s, told reporters he initially feared the worst.
"I woke up this morning thinking that there had been an earthquake," he said. "I searched the news, but I didn't find anything immediately, so I thought a bomb had gone off."
Emergency services confirmed that eight people required hospital treatment for injuries caused by flying glass and debris. Seven others suffered minor injuries that did not necessitate a hospital transfer.
The Cheongju municipal government has activated its disaster response system. Officials are currently conducting safety inspections on neighboring buildings to ensure structural integrity following the shockwave. Investigators remain at the scene to determine the exact cause of the gas leak.
While the investigation is ongoing, local authorities have focused their efforts on securing the area and assessing the full extent of the property damage. No further information regarding the restaurant’s safety compliance records has been released at this time.
