An explosion in a fireworks factory located in a central province of China resulted in the tragic death of 26 individuals and left 61 others injured, as per reports from state media on Tuesday. The incident took place at a fireworks manufacturing plant situated in Changsha city, Hunan province, on Monday afternoon, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua.
The factory, managed by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Liuyang, a city under the administration of Changsha, is a renowned fireworks hub in the nation, as stated by China Daily. Changsha’s mayor, Chen Bozhang, stated during a media briefing that the search and rescue operation at the site had mostly concluded, but the process of confirming casualties and identifying victims was still ongoing.
Chen expressed condolences on behalf of the local government to the victims, their families, and the injured, offering apologies to society. He conveyed deep regret, saying, “We feel extremely pained and deeply remorseful.” Ding Weiming, the party secretary of the Changsha Emergency Management Bureau, mentioned that a considerable amount of products or semi-finished goods caught fire at the site, leading to continuous sporadic explosions.
The emergency responders faced challenges due to large quantities of gunpowder igniting in the warehouse area, posing risks to the safety of the rescue teams. Furthermore, the factory area suffered structural damage, with walls, columns, and the roof collapsing, trapping individuals and obstructing access routes.
Following the incident, all fireworks and firecracker manufacturers in Liuyang were instructed to cease production, as reported by local media. Aerial footage broadcasted by state channel CCTV on Tuesday depicted white smoke rising from certain areas of the site with collapsed or damaged structures. Authorities evacuated residents from high-risk zones, citing the threat posed by two black powder warehouses near the explosion site.
An investigation into the explosion’s cause is underway, with reports indicating that the individual in charge of the company has been detained by the police. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for exhaustive search efforts to locate missing individuals and provide aid to the injured. He emphasized the need for a swift inquiry into the incident and holding those responsible accountable.
This explosion marks the third such incident reported in China in recent months, with previous incidents occurring around the Lunar New Year period. China, a major player in the global fireworks market, exported fireworks worth $1.14 billion US last year, accounting for over two-thirds of global sales, as per data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
