An explosion of a propane-butane cylinder at the U Kojota restaurant in Most, Czech Republic, located about 62 miles north of Prague, resulted in six fatalities and left eight people injured on the late evening of Saturday, January 11, 2025. The explosion was triggered when a gas heater in the restaurant’s glass-enclosed outdoor terrace tipped over, causing a fire that quickly consumed the building.
Three of the injured persons are in critical condition in a specialized burn treatment unit in Prague. The remaining five are receiving treatment in local hospitals in Most and nearby cities. The critically injured patients sustained burns on over 50% of their body surfaces.
Emergency responders faced further complications during their rescue operations as more gas cylinders exploded. During these operations, one firefighter was injured and received treatment at a local healthcare facility.
The fire, which started around 11:17 PM, affected about 20 patrons who were still in the restaurant. One severely injured guest, who had been trapped in a restroom, was rescued by emergency personnel. About 30 people, including those from neighboring buildings, were evacuated by the fire brigade.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, who visited the site early Sunday morning, confirmed the initial report. “According to initial information from witnesses, a heater overturned, causing a fire,” was the statement released on the fire brigade’s official social media account. Rakušan further clarified that the propane-butane heater was located in the restaurant’s front garden.
At the time of the explosion, the restaurant, a local favorite situated in the center of this industrial town roughly 5.8 miles from the German border, was operating at normal capacity.
Emergency services noted the unusually quick spread of the fire through the building, reporting that by the time additional units arrived around 1:00 AM, the building was fully ablaze. The Criminal Police have initiated a thorough investigation into potential negligence resulting in public endangerment. The investigation includes examining the remains of the gas heating system and interviewing survivors to piece together a comprehensive timeline of events.
A team of structural engineers is currently evaluating the stability of the building to ensure it is safe for investigators to continue their work. The area around the building remains cordoned off as a precaution. The primary focus of the fire investigators is to assess the restaurant’s adherence to safety regulations concerning the storage and usage of propane-butane cylinders.
This incident is the sixth deadliest fire in the Czech Republic since 1990. The most lethal incident occurred in August 2020 when an apartment in Bohumín was set on fire, resulting in 11 fatalities.