At least 26 people have been killed and 61 others injured after a massive explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in central China’s Hunan province. The blast occurred at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a city widely known as China’s “fireworks capital.”
Chinese state media reported that the explosion happened on Monday afternoon, sending huge clouds of smoke into the sky and flattening several buildings inside the factory complex. Rescue teams, firefighters, drones, and robots were deployed to search for survivors and prevent secondary explosions caused by stored black powder and other flammable materials.
Authorities evacuated nearby residents and suspended operations at fireworks factories across Liuyang while safety inspections are carried out. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a full investigation into the incident and called for stricter industrial safety measures nationwide.
The factory owner has reportedly been detained as investigators examine the cause of the explosion. The tragedy has renewed concerns over workplace safety standards in China’s fireworks and chemical manufacturing industries, which have experienced several deadly industrial accidents in recent years.
News as Reported.
