China boy behind firecracker sewer blast that destroys luxury cars faces US$39,000 claim
Youngster’s tearful grandmother apologises, blames herself in online video as vehicle owners count cost of explosion that sent cars flying into air
A young boy in China and his parents are under investigation after the child threw firecrackers into a sewer, igniting methane and causing an explosion that damaged several luxury cars.
Eight vehicles, including a Porsche, a BMW and an Audi, were damaged in the explosion, with the total loss reaching 285,000 yuan (US$39,000), according to insurance companies.
The boy’s family will have to pay the bulk of this amount, according to Jiupai News.
The unidentified youngster tossed the lit firecrackers into a sewer on a lawn in Zizhong county in Sichuan, southwestern China, on January 30, then ran away.
The impact of the blast was such that some cars parked nearby were blown into the air, one was completely overturned.
The boy, who was uninjured, was caught by police an hour later, and taken to a police station with his parents for questioning. It was not revealed what punishment they will face.
