Cafe appliance sent for testing after gas blast

Cafe Hasan Baba. Photo / Greg Bowker

A faulty appliance may be responsible for a gas explosion that blew up a restaurant in the east Auckland suburb of Howick early on Sunday morning.

The blast at the Cafe Hasan Baba threw furniture and debris into the street, waking hundreds of neighbours about 3am on Sunday. But nobody was hurt in the blast or resulting fire.

Fire safety officer Gary Beer said today they were still unsure about the cause of the explosion but had sent an appliance away for forensic testing.

"We are waiting for the results of the test from ESR (Environnmental Science Research)."

Residents thought it was a P lab explosion or debris falling from outer space.

- NZPA