Most, Czech Republic — A devastating explosion at the U Kojota restaurant in Most, the Czech Republic late Saturday evening claimed the lives of six people and injured eight others. The blast, which occurred approximately 62 miles north of Prague, was triggered by a propane-butane cylinder after a gas heater was tipped over on the restaurant’s glass-enclosed terrace.
Three of the eight injured are in critical condition at a specialized burn unit in Prague, suffering from burns covering more than half of their bodies. The rest are receiving medical attention in hospitals in Most and nearby cities.
During the emergency response, the situation escalated as additional gas cylinders exploded, posing further danger to the fire service personnel. One firefighter sustained injuries and was treated locally.
The incident happened just after 11:17 PM, with about 20 patrons still inside the venue. Firefighters managed to rescue one severely injured guest from a bathroom and evacuated around 30 people from the restaurant and nearby buildings.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan visited the scene early the next morning, confirming the initial assessments. He reiterated that the explosion was caused by an overturned heater in the restaurant’s front yard, as stated by fire officials on their social media.
The U Kojota restaurant is a popular dining spot located in an industrial town close to the German border, known for its lively local scene. At the time of the explosion, the restaurant was reportedly operating at normal capacity.
Responders reported that the fire spread unusually quickly, engulfing the entire building by the time additional rescue teams arrived at around 1:00 AM. Law enforcement has since launched an in-depth investigation into the incident, exploring possible negligent actions that could have endangered public safety. Specialists are currently examining the remnants of the gas heating system and are conducting interviews with survivors to piece together the sequence of events leading to the disaster.
Structural engineers have been summoned to assess the building’s integrity to ensure a safe environment for the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the area around the restaurant remains sealed off as a precaution.
Authorities are also scrutinizing whether proper safety regulations regarding the storage and handling of propane-butane cylinders were followed by the restaurant management.
This tragic event has been recorded as the sixth most destructive fire in the Czech Republic since 1990. The deadliest fire in recent history happened in August 2020, when an arson attack in an apartment in Bohumín killed 11 people, marking a somber period for the nation in terms of fire-related incidents.