Deadly cost of lax supervision

Police cordon off the area where the accident happened. [Photo/IC]

An explosion at an unlicensed restaurant in East China's Anhui province on Saturday, which killed 17 people, 14 of whom were students, has revealed the management's ignoring of safety risks and a lack of basic government supervision.

The blast came minutes after a gas cylinder caught fire at a small restaurant rented by a couple in Wuhu in Anhui province. China Central Television said the restaurant had been operating for almost two months without a business license.

We extend our condolences to the families of those that died, and hope that the necessary lessons will be learned. We also hope that those who failed to fulfill their responsibilities will be held accountable.

Available facts indicate that the deadly tragedy could have been avoided if the necessary safety supervision from local authorities had been imposed and if the restaurant's owners had displayed an awareness of potential safety hazards. The couple running the restaurant has been detained and further investigation into the incident is underway.

Why was the unlicensed restaurant allowed to run for nearly two months without the authorities questioning its legitimacy? Why did the fire department not inspect the premises and urge the owners to rectify the hazards, especially since there had been a fire at the restaurant before? Why had no one reported the restaurant was operating without a license?

To build a leaner and more efficient bureaucracy, the central government has made great efforts to simplify administrative procedures, delegate some power to lower levels of government and let the market play a decisive role in economic activities. However, that does not mean loosening supervision over market behavior, especially when it comes to safety.

The latest incident in the unlicensed Wuhu restaurant again demonstrates the tragic consequences resulting from a lack of needed government supervision in certain areas.