On the evening of April 19th, in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, a 8-year-old girl triggered a violent explosion when she turned on the light in the kitchen, resulting in burns covering 58% of her body.
According to a report from Henan Broadcasting and Television’s Minsheng Channel, the incident occurred at night when the child went to the outdoor kitchen to get steamed buns. When she turned on the light, a suspected gas leak caused the explosion, instantly distorting the iron door of the kitchen. The girl’s mother climbed in through the window and rescued her daughter, who was then rushed to the burn unit at Zhengzhou First People’s Hospital for treatment.
“I heard a bang, and when I saw her, she was like a small fireball, her hair was all gone, only a little bit left at the back,” the girl’s mother said. The girl suffered burns covering 58% of her limbs and torso, requiring skin grafts for all areas. “Her belly, head, and face all have third-degree burns.”
As reported by Xingdao, the director of the burn unit at the hospital revealed that the girl was in shock upon admission, with burns affecting her head, face, both upper limbs, and torso, reaching the muscle layer with inhalation injuries. The hospital has started comprehensive treatment including wound debridement, xenogeneic skin grafting, and infection control. However, patients with severe burns are prone to complications such as infection and multiple organ failure, and they still need to overcome the “shock”, “infection”, and “repair” challenges ahead.
It was reported that the gas pipeline in the girl’s home had been in use for over 10 years without undergoing safety inspections, and this incident may be related to aging and leakage of the pipeline. Currently, the gas company has launched an investigation, with initial findings suggesting that the accident was caused by the detachment of a gas hose leading to a leak, but further assessment is needed to determine the exact cause.
Adding to the tragic situation, the girl’s treatment is estimated to cost up to 500,000 RMB. However, the girl’s mother stated that they have three children at home, and the family relies solely on the father’s income from working at a construction site. They have borrowed the current expenses, but the future costs remain uncertain.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of regular safety inspections for gas pipelines to prevent accidents like this from happening again. The family’s plight highlights the financial struggles faced by many families in covering medical expenses for severe burn injuries, emphasizing the need for support and assistance in such difficult times.