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Gas explosion in Cheongju leaves windows shattered and a neighborhood rattled

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 20:24

Officials from the National Forensic Service and fire authorities conduct a joint inspection inside and outside a restaurant following an LPG explosion in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on April 13. [YONHAP]

CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong — A gas explosion early Monday morning in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, left the area in chaos.

“I heard a loud bang and went out to the living room, and all the windows were shattered,” said a resident surnamed Kang, who lives in a house 70 meters (230 feet) away from the site of the explosion. “I thought a war had broken out.”

A report of the explosion was received at 3:59 a.m., the Chungbuk Fire Service Headquarters said. The blast was traced to inside a Chinese restaurant on the first floor of a three-story building.

Delivery containers and other items were blown outside the restaurant, while nearby shop signs and windows were shattered. The blast overturned a car parked in front of the restaurant. In a nearby apartment complex, multiple cases of broken living room windows were also reported.

“At first, I thought it was a bomb or an earthquake, so I hid in the room with my wife,” Kang said. “When the noise subsided and I checked the house around 3:55 a.m., the windows in the living room and bedroom were completely shattered. Even the electrical cords had been pulled out.”

Kang added, “Fortunately, I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I heard glass shards injured several residents.”

Window frames of a nearby apartment building have been blown off following a gas leak explosion at a restaurant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on April 13. [NEWS1]

A total of 15 residents were injured by flying glass, with eight requiring hospital treatment. As the explosion occurred in the early morning, the shops were empty, and most residents were caught off guard while asleep.

“I was asleep in my bedroom when the explosion woke me up,” said a resident surnamed Kim. “If it weren’t for the blackout curtains, I could have been seriously hurt.”

Broken glass was found on the floors of apartment buildings located about 70 to 80 meters (230 to 262 feet) from the blast.

“Fearing another explosion, I evacuated outside with several neighbors,” a resident surnamed Lee said. “I found windows broken on the first and second floors of nearby shops and up to the 10th floor in apartment units.”

A damage scene from a gas leak explosion in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on April 13 [NEWS1]

The radius of direct damage from debris scattering was 100 meters, while the radius of damage from vibrations was 200 meters, according to the Cheongju fire station.

“All injured residents were classified as having minor injuries,” Kim Eun-ho, an official at the station, said at a briefing.

“A total of 105 apartment units, 91 vehicles, 16 commercial shops and 10 households were reported damaged. The extent of damage may increase.”

Fire authorities believe the explosion was caused by a gas leak. The restaurant stored two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks with capacities of 180 kilograms (397 pounds) and 50 kilograms.

“The business had recently changed to a Chinese restaurant and began operations the previous day,” Kim Eun-ho said, adding the restaurant closed at 10 p.m.

“The 180-kilogram tank was only about half full, and gas was found to be leaking slightly when we arrived.”

A car is overturned following an LPG explosion in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on April 13. [YONHAP]

Authorities believe the tank itself did not explode. Instead, leaked gas is believed to have accumulated and ignited from a spark from appliances in the restaurant, such as stoves or noodle-making equipment.

“Leaked gas likely accumulated and was ignited by a spark, possibly from an electrical outlet inside the restaurant,” a fire official said. “LPG is heavier than air and tends to settle. The exact cause will be determined through further investigation.”

While it depends on environmental conditions, studies show that an explosion involving 20 kilograms of household LPG can easily destroy an entire house, according to Prof. Kong Ha-sung of the Department of Fire and Disaster Prevention at Woosuk University.

At around 100 kilograms, the direct damage radius can reach 30 to 50 meters, and with more than 150 kilograms, it can extend up to 100 meters.

Windows at a nearby apartment complex were broken following a gas leak explosion in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on April 13.[YONHAP]

“Because LPG explosions can cause significant damage to people and property, it is important to install not only gas leak detectors but also automatic shutoff systems,” Prof. Kong said. “Because even if an alarm goes off, it is difficult to quickly shut off the valve due to the risk of an explosion.”

Cheongju city's government said it has activated its disaster response system, conducting building safety inspections in nearby apartment complexes, checking for gas leaks and securing temporary housing for displaced residents.

“Once the damage assessment is complete, we will swiftly proceed with site cleanup, including debris and waste removal,” Cheongju mayor Lee Beom-seog said. “We will also relocate displaced residents to facilities with heating and cooling, considering the day-night temperature difference, and provide full support for meals and daily living.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHOI JONG-KWON [[email protected]]