An explosion today in a restaurant believed to be caused by a gas leakage has injured 13 people. According to the Fire Services Bureau, the explosion took place in a restaurant in NAPE at 07:02 a.m. The injured comprised five men and eight women, one of whom was trapped in the rubble and had to be freed by firemen. Eight people, four men and four women aged between 41 to 65, were sent to Conde S. Januario Hospital after the accident and seven of them who had sustained glass cuts to their hands, legs and head, were discharged after treatment. A 48-year-old Hong Kong man who sustained rib and foot fractures was in stable condition and remained in hospital for observation. The eight hospitalised people comprised three Macao women, one Korean man, one Korean woman, two Hong Kong men and a man from mainland China. Five people, one man and four women, were treated at the scene. The restaurant was located on the ground floor of 'Centro Internacional de Macau' on Rua de Malaca. The Fire Services Bureau ruled out foul play after a preliminary investigation and said it believed the explosion was caused by gas leakage. It utilised 16 emergency vehicles and more than 40 personnel in the operation. During the incident, the police blocked off a section of Rua de Malaca and Rua de Luís Gonzaga Gomes. More than 40 police officers took part in the operation. Affected by the explosion, the communications network of Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal was terminated. The Maritime Administration activated an emergency mechanism and asked ferry companies to minimise the effects towards passengers. Currently the ferry terminal and ferry companies maintained normal services.
