At least 21 people killed and dozens injured after explosion at Chinese fireworks factory
An explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province killed 21 people and injured 61 others on Monday afternoon.
The blast struck at around 4.40pm local time at the Huasheng Fireworks plant in Liuyang - a city known as the world’s largest producer of fireworks.
Emergency crews deployed nearly 500 personnel, including firefighters, rescue workers and medical teams, as authorities raced to contain the devastation.
Robots were also sent in to search for people trapped beneath the rubble.
Officials ordered the evacuation of everyone living within a 3km radius of the site.
According to state media, two gunpowder warehouses at the factory posed major risks during rescue efforts, with teams implementing humidity control measures to reduce the chance of further explosions.
Footage broadcast by CCTV showed thick smoke billowing from the site, alongside collapsed buildings and debris strewn across the surrounding area.
Those injured were reportedly aged from their twenties to their sixties, with some suffering bone fractures caused by flying wreckage.
One woman living around 1km from the plant told Beijing News: "The glass windows in our homes were shattered, aluminum window frames were deformed, and even the stainless-steel doors were twisted out of shape."
Residents also reported stones being hurled onto nearby roads by the force of the explosion, forcing villagers to flee or take alternative routes.
Another local woman said she fled the area in fear for her life.
Windows in nearby residential buildings were also blown out by the blast, according to Chinese media reports.
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Police have detained the person responsible for operating the fireworks company as investigators work to establish the cause of the explosion.
President Xi Jinping has ordered a full investigation and called for those responsible be held accountable.
He also called for maximum efforts to locate anyone still missing and ensure the wounded receive urgent treatment.
Deadly industrial explosions remain a recurring problem in China, where fireworks are widely used during major celebrations including Lunar New Year.
In February, 12 people were killed when a fireworks shop exploded in Hubei province during new year festivities.
Last June, another blast at a Hunan fireworks factory killed nine workers and injured 26 others.
Liuyang has long been synonymous with fireworks manufacturing, with pyrotechnics forming a major pillar of the local economy.
China is believed to be home to over 3,000 fireworks factories, with an estimated one billion manufactured every single year.
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