No Casualties Reported Despite Explosion
Numerous Vehicles Overturned, Resulting in Significant Property Damage
A large-scale explosion occurred in Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, China, when a boy threw fireworks into a manhole cover. Although there were no casualties in the accident, significant property damage occurred due to road damage and vehicle overturning. On the 3rd, local media including Xingtiao Daily reported on the explosion accident that took place on the 30th of last month at the Neijiang City Jizhong County China Railway parking lot.
A boy in Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, China, threw fireworks into a manhole cover, causing an explosion that damaged vehicles. Douyin
CCTV footage from the scene shows a boy, estimated to be of elementary school age, walking between parked cars and throwing fireworks into a manhole cover before running away. Shortly after the fireworks were thrown, red flames erupted from the ground, followed by a loud explosion and mud shooting several meters high. The explosion created a large hole in the ground, and nearby parked cars were thrown into the air. One expensive foreign car was flipped over and flew through the air, several vehicle windows were shattered, and the car bodies were covered in mud and debris.
At least eight vehicles, including high-end foreign cars such as Lincoln, Lexus, Land Rover, and Audi, were damaged in the explosion. Some media estimated the damage from this accident to exceed 5 million yuan (approximately 1 billion KRW). A woman who was near the accident site testified, "The explosion happened just seconds after I got out of the car. I almost got blown away too," and added, "I didn’t know what happened, so I just ran away blindly."
In Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, China, a large-scale explosion occurred when a boy threw fireworks using a manhole cover. Although there were no casualties in this accident, significant property damage occurred due to road damage and vehicle overturning. Douyin
Legal experts stated, "The boy’s guardian should bear all costs including vehicle repair, underground sewage, and road restoration." Meanwhile, some media reported that the boy’s mother, who was taken into police custody, said, "If our child is 100% responsible, we will sell our house to compensate, but if the accident is not entirely the child’s fault, we cannot pay even 1 yuan." The boy’s mother claimed, "The cause of the accident is not simply the child’s fault," and argued, "Factors such as shock, friction, and sunlight may have triggered the explosion, and the direct cause was likely gas in the sewage system." She also pointed to nine responsible agencies including the apartment management office, safety management department, and sewage management department, demanding a joint investigation.
Local experts warned that flammable gases can naturally accumulate in sewers, septic tanks, and wastewater treatment facilities, so contact with sparks from fireworks can lead to a large explosion. If a manhole is sealed for a long time, methane gas can accumulate, and when it meets a flame, it can cause a powerful explosion.
Meanwhile, similar accidents have been occurring recently in China around the Lunar New Year holiday. On the 27th of last month in Chongqing, a girl threw fireworks into a sewer causing an explosion, and on the 21st of last month in the same area, a boy threw fireworks into a manhole cover and was injured. The cause of such accidents is attributed to the culture of enjoying fireworks during major Chinese holidays. In response, Chinese authorities stated, "When using fireworks, these places must be avoided," and added, "Especially when children use fireworks, they must be supervised by guardians, and fireworks must never be used in places with flammable materials."
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