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 part of a criminal case initiated 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 catastrophic explosion that ripped through the cafe late on the evening of February 26. The blast was captured on video, showing windows shaking and the building quickly becoming engulfed in flames.

The toll from the tragedy has risen to nine fatalities. 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. Thirteen required hospitalization, with four patients remaining at the "Avicenna-Burabay" hospital and four others in intensive care at the regional hospital as of March 5. All are under constant medical supervision.

Firefighters responding to the blaze managed to retrieve five 50-liter gas cylinders and two oxygen tanks from the burning building, preventing further explosions. An investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause.

An eyewitness described a scene of sudden chaos. "Everything happened very fast. In a second," he said. People ran out with burns, some without hair or shoes, leaving their jackets behind. Staff and cooks fell into the snow outside. The witness recounted seeing his severely burned aunt being taken away and confirmed he lost a friend who was a patron that night.