A propane-butane cylinder explosion at the U Kojota restaurant in Most, Czech Republic, approximately 62 miles north of Prague, killed six people and injured eight others late Saturday evening, January 11, 2025. The blast occurred when a gas heater toppled over in the restaurant’s glass-enclosed outdoor terrace, spreading flames rapidly through the establishment.
Three of the injured victims remain in critical condition at the specialized burn treatment unit in Prague. Five others are being treated at local hospitals in Most and surrounding cities. The three patients in critical condition suffered burns covering more than 50% of their bodies.
Emergency services reported that additional gas cylinders exploded during their firefighting operations, complicating rescue efforts. One firefighter sustained injuries during the response operation and was treated at a local medical facility.
The fire started around 11:17 PM when approximately 20 guests were still in the restaurant. Emergency responders rescued one seriously injured guest who had been trapped in a bathroom. The fire brigade evacuated approximately 30 people from the restaurant and neighboring buildings to safety.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, who arrived early Sunday morning to assess the damage and coordinate with emergency services, confirmed the preliminary findings. “According to initial information from witnesses, a heater overturned, causing a fire,” the fire brigade reported on their official social media account. Rakušan added that the propane-butane heater was in the restaurant’s front garden.
The restaurant, a popular local establishment located in the center of the industrial town approximately 9.3 miles from the German border, was operating at standard capacity when the explosion occurred.
Emergency services documented the unusually rapid spread of the flames throughout the structure, noting that the fire had fully engulfed the building by the time additional emergency units arrived around 1:00 AM. The Criminal Police have launched a comprehensive investigation into potential negligence leading to public endangerment. Police specialists are examining the remains of the gas heating system and interviewing survivors to establish a complete timeline of events.
A team of structural engineers is currently assessing the building’s stability to ensure safe conditions for investigators to proceed with their work. The surrounding area remains cordoned off as a precautionary measure. Fire investigators are mainly focused on examining the restaurant’s compliance with safety regulations regarding the storage and use of propane-butane cylinders.
This fire ranks as the sixth most devastating in the Czech Republic since 1990. The most fatal incident took place in August 2020, when an arson attack on an apartment in Bohumín resulted in 11 deaths.