Owner of Kazakh Cafe Arrested for Two Months After Deadly Explosion

A court in Kazakhstan has ordered the two-month arrest of the owner of the "Plov Center" cafe in Shchuchinsk. The man was detained on March 2, and on March 4, a judge sanctioned his pre-trial detention.

The arrest is connected to a criminal case opened under Article 292 of the Criminal Code for violating fire safety rules, which negligently caused the death of two or more people. This charge carries a potential prison sentence of five to ten years.

The case stems from a tragic explosion that occurred late in the evening on February 26 at the establishment. The blast was captured on video. According to emergency services, firefighters later removed five 50-liter gas cylinders and two oxygen tanks from the burning building, preventing further explosions.

The latest official figures confirm nine fatalities from the incident. Initially, seven deaths were reported, but two more victims succumbed to their injuries in intensive care by March 3. In total, 28 people were injured. Ten were rescued at the scene, with 13 requiring hospitalization; eight of those received treatment and were released.

As of March 5, several patients remain hospitalized. Four are being treated at the "Avicenna-Burabay" hospital, while four others are in intensive care at the regional hospital. Health officials report that all patients are under constant medical supervision and continue to receive treatment.

An eyewitness described a scene of sudden chaos. "Everything happened very fast. In a second," he said. "People were running out... All with burns. All the cooks, staff—they literally fell into the snow." He recounted seeing his severely burned aunt and noted that people fled without jackets or shoes, some having lost their hair in the fire. The witness also lost a friend who was a patron at the cafe that night.

Investigators are still working to determine the exact cause and circumstances of the explosion.