Photo: video screenshot

A boy in Zizhong county,mk Neijiang in Southwest China's Sichuan Province threw a firecracker into a septic tank on Thursday, causing a methane explosion that damaged several vehicles. No casualties were reported, and authorities tracked down the boy within an hour. Police have launched an investigation into the incident, China Media Group reported.

The incident quickly gained widespread attention online, briefly becoming the top trending topic on China's Sina Weibo, amassing over 80.86 million views. A video of the explosion posted by China Media Group on short-video platform Douyin has garnered over 79,000 comments. 

Similar incidents involving children igniting firecrackers and inadvertently triggering explosions have raised growing safety concerns. On Monday, in Dazu district of Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a young girl set off a firecracker on top of a manhole cover, triggering a biogas explosion. She was injured in the blast. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday, the eve of the Spring Festival, that her injuries were not life-threatening.  

In February 2023, in Luohe city, Central China's Henan Province, two children set off firecrackers on a manhole cover, which led to an explosion that shattered the cover. Tragically, the accident claimed the life of one child and left another injured.  

Officials continue to caution the public about the dangers of flammable gases in sewage systems and stress the need for parental supervision during festive periods. China Fire and Rescue, for instance, has recently issued multiple safety alerts via its official WeChat account, highlighting the risks of setting off firecrackers in hazardous environments.

Global Times