Recently, an unusual occurrence was spotted in the Zhou River, near a residential area in Dazhou, Sichuan Province. Dense bubbles continuously surfaced from the river, and astonishingly, they ignited upon contact with an open flame—at times even making the water appear to boil.

In response, the Dazhou Natural Resources and Planning Bureau conducted tests and ruled out the possibility of a gas pipeline leak. Initial assessments suggest that the phenomenon is caused by shallow natural gas seeping from underground. Officials stated that the bubbles primarily consist of methane and pose no direct harm to humans. However, due to their flammable nature, safety concerns have been raised. Authorities have since cordoned off the area, increased patrols, and urged residents to keep their distance.

Experts believe that the gas release may have been triggered by water erosion exposing underground fissures. Dazhou, known as "China’s Gas Capital," is rich in natural gas reserves, and similar occurrences may exist in the region. However, the visibility of gas bubbling through water makes this particular case especially rare.