China ordered a nationwide safety inspection of Internet cafes and other entertainment venues today after a powerful explosion in the southwest killed six people and left 38 injured.
The order from the ministry of culture came after the blast ripped through a web cafe in Kaili city in Guizhou province late last night, reducing it to ruins and shattering windows in neighbouring buildings.
"Relevant departments and bureaus have been ordered to take immediate concrete measures and carry out nationwide safety inspections of cultural venues," the ministry said on its website.
The explosion was triggered by chemicals including sodium nitrite and aluminium chloride "illegally stored" next door to the internet cafe, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing local police.
Of the injured, nine were seriously hurt.
Police have detained one person for "illegally possessing the chemicals" while the cafe's boss and manager have been taken into custody for questioning, the report said.
At least 45 people were inside the cafe at the time of the blast.
State television showed rescue workers pulling victims from the devastated building and rushing the injured to hospital.
