A catastrophic explosion, caused by a propane-butane cylinder, erupted at the U Kojota restaurant in Most, Czech Republic, a city roughly 62 miles north of Prague. The incident, which took place late Saturday evening on January 11, 2025, resulted in six fatalities and eight injuries. The explosion was triggered when a gas heater fell over on the restaurant’s glass-walled outdoor terrace, which accelerated the fire throughout the premises.
Of the injured, three were in critical condition, receiving treatment at a specialized burn unit in Prague. The other five were being cared for at local hospitals in Most and neighboring cities. The critically injured victims had burns over more than 50% of their bodies.
Emergency services encountered further challenges when additional gas cylinders exploded during their firefighting efforts. One firefighter suffered injuries in the line of duty and received treatment at a local medical facility.
The fire started around 11:17 PM, at a time when an estimated 20 patrons were still present in the restaurant. One severely injured guest was rescued from a bathroom by emergency responders. The fire brigade evacuated approximately 30 people from the fiery restaurant and adjacent buildings.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, who toured the site early Sunday morning, confirmed the preliminary findings. “According to initial information from witnesses, a heater overturned, causing a fire,” stated the fire brigade on their official social media account. Rakušan clarified that the propane-butane heater was located in the restaurant’s front garden.
The restaurant, a well-liked local spot situated in the heart of the industrial town about 9.3 miles from the German border, was operating at normal capacity when the explosion happened.
Emergency services noted the unusually swift spread of the flames, indicating that the entire building was already ablaze when additional emergency units reached the scene around 1:00 AM. The Criminal Police have initiated a thorough investigation into possible negligence that could have put the public at risk. Police specialists are analyzing the remains of the gas heating system and speaking with survivors to establish a full timeline of events.
A group of structural engineers is presently evaluating the structural integrity of the building to ensure a safe environment for investigators to continue their work. The nearby area remains cordoned off as a safety measure. The main focus of fire investigators is whether the restaurant adhered to safety regulations concerning the storage and usage of propane-butane cylinders.
This incident is ranked as the sixth most destructive fire in the Czech Republic since 1990. The most deadly incident occurred in August 2020, when an arson attack on an apartment in Bohumín resulted in 11 fatalities.
