A powerful explosion has torn through a café in Shchuchinsk, killing seven people and injuring 19 others in a tragedy that has shocked the resort town in the Burabay District, Kazakhstan.

A gas-air mixture ignited inside the café - which was attached to a five-story residential building - triggering a blast followed by a fire, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Щучинск | Казахстан 🇰🇿 (@shchuchinsk.city)

The explosion happened between February 26 and 27 and was so powerful that it was captured on surveillance cameras installed across the street.

Seven Dead, Including Teenager

Authorities confirmed that 26 people were affected in total:

Seven fatalities, including a 16-year-old girl

13 people hospitalized at the Burabay District Hospital

Six discharged for outpatient monitoring

Initial reports cited six deaths, but updated data released at 03:41 a.m. (GMT+5) confirmed the toll had risen to seven.

Air Ambulances Deployed

As the scale of the disaster became clear, additional medical teams were urgently dispatched to the scene. Five of the injured were transported by air ambulance to a hospital in Kokshetau, the administrative center of Akmola Region. Two more patients are currently being prepared for transfer.

Doctors say all injured victims remain under constant medical supervision. Specialists, medicines, and emergency resources have been mobilized to ensure comprehensive care.

Investigation Underway

A regional emergency headquarters has been set up at the site of the explosion. Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the gas-air ignition.

Authorities have pledged full support to the families of those killed and injured and urged the public to rely only on official sources for verified information as the investigation continues.