At least nine killed after gas explosion at restaurant traps people inside

A restaurant packed with gas cylinders exploded and set off a fire that killed at least nine people in the Lebanese capital of Beirut this evening.

Dramatic footage shared by the city’s fire brigade shows thick smoke billowing out of Pizza Secrets along Bechara El Khoury.

Captain Ali Negm told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that it appears two gas canisters ruptured inside, causing a fire that trapped eight people inside.

They died of suffocation, the captain said.

Among those who died in the fire were Imad Ahmed Shuqair from Mays al-Jabal, Aya Hassan Marmar, of Ansar, Walid Muhammad Dankour from Kafr Benin, Hassan Harmoush from Baalbek-Hermel and Ali Musa Jab.

The pizzeria explosion ignited a huge fireball, trapping people inside (Picture: EPA)

The burnt-out restaurant (Picture: EPA)

Firefighters have since extinguished the blaze, thought to have been ignited by a gas leak (Picture: EPA)

Residents and passers-by packed the street to see firefighters tackle the flames, with fears the fire could spread to the government departments, restaurants, and shops that make up the densely populated city centre.

The sign of the small restaurant was completely gnawed at by the fire, with only the letter ‘a’ of pizza and ‘ts’ of secrets left on the burned-out shop.

In a social media statement at about 8pm local time, fire officials the fire led to ‘two wounded and eight victims who died of suffocation inside the restaurant’.

Insiders told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the number of dead has since risen to nine and four people were wounded.

Those who survived the inferno are now being treated at Al-Rum Hospital and Rizk Hospital.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi toured the site and confirmed a criminal investigation will take place, the Lebanese government’s National News Agency said.

Joining Mawlawi at the site was Parliament member Ibrahim Mneimneh who questioned safety standards at the restaurant.

The accident ‘shows this place was not in line with public safety standards’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.