An explosion at a fireworks factory in a central Chinese province has resulted in the death of at least 26 individuals and left 61 others injured, as reported by state media on Tuesday. The incident occurred at a fireworks plant situated in Changsha city, Hunan province, on Monday afternoon, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua.
The plant, operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Liuyang, a prominent fireworks hub within Changsha, was the site of the tragic blast. Chen Bozhang, the mayor of Changsha, stated during a media briefing that while a search and rescue operation has been largely completed, the process of verifying casualties and identifying victims is still ongoing.
Expressing condolences to the victims and apologizing to the affected society, including the families and injured individuals, Chen remarked, “We feel extremely pained and deeply remorseful.” Ding Weiming, the party secretary of the Changsha Emergency Management Bureau, explained that the explosion led to continuous sporadic blasts due to a significant amount of products or semifinished products catching fire at the site.
In response to the incident, all fireworks and firecracker manufacturers in Liuyang have been instructed to cease production. Aerial footage broadcasted by state-run CCTV showcased white smoke emanating from certain areas of the factory complex, displaying collapsed and damaged structures. Authorities evacuated residents from high-risk zones, citing the dangers posed by two black powder warehouses near the explosion site.
An investigation into the explosion’s cause is underway, with the individual in charge of the company already detained by the police, as reported by Xinhua. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for exhaustive search efforts to locate missing persons and provide aid to the injured. Additionally, he urged swift investigation and serious accountability in the aftermath of the incident.
This latest explosion follows two deadly incidents at fireworks shops in China during the Lunar New Year period. Notably, China exported fireworks worth $1.14 billion US last year, representing more than two-thirds of global sales, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.