Popular Xiaobei Turkish joint Bosphorus is no more (at least for the time being), after fire ravaged the restaurant at around 7pm yesterday evening. Videos of the incident circulated heavily on social media last night; some showing the building engulfed in flames as curious onlookers watch on, while others show fire crews battling the blaze.
Watch footage of the inferno below (VPN off):
According to the Guangzhou Fire Department, emergency responders were dispatched to battle the fire and arrived on the scene at 7.14pm. By 7.26pm, the flames were extinguished. Luckily, no one was killed or injured.
As for what caused the blaze, the city fire department wrote the following on their Weibo account:
“The fire was started from Bosphorous Restaurant’s oven chimney on the first floor, which started to burn the billboard located on the second floor, with flames spreading an area of about 10 square meters. No one was injured.”
That’s visited the site of the fire this morning and can confirm that Bosphorus Turkish Restaurant sustained heavy damage. The windows on the second floor are completely gone and fire damage can be seen on the second floor. While we were unable to enter the building, we imagine the interior suffered substantial water damage as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
Image by Matthew Bossons/That's
Shami House, which is located directly next door to Bosphorus, suffered only minor damage to the restaurant’s signage.
Both restaurants are in the Zhaoqing Building, which is located near the Xiaobei Metro Station on Huanshi Zhong Lu, and when we arrived this morning the entire building was without power. Above Bosphorus, scorch marks could be seen seven to eight stories up the front of the Zhaoqing Building.
Burn marks on the Zhaoqing Building. Image by Matthew Bossons/That's
We were unable to get in contact with management at Bosphorus, but were able to chat with the proprietor of Shami House, who told us that the fire originated from Bosphorus and that his business escaped essentially unscathed. He also added that authorities are currently investigating the fire and that his business will remain closed until given official approval to reopen.
According to numerous sources we spoke with, this is the second time the Xiaobei location of Bosphorus has caught fire.
Watch footage of the aftermath below (VPN off):
[Cover image: screengrab via itouchtv.com]
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