Fireworks Factory Explosion In China Kills Nine, Injures 26

An explosion at a fireworks factory in central China has left nine people dead and 26 others injured, state media reported on Tuesday, as rescue operations continued under difficult conditions.

The blast occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Monday in a village near Changde, Hunan province, according to China National Radio (CNR).

By 9 a.m. Tuesday, authorities confirmed the casualties, citing information from the rescue command centre. CNR described the situation as “complicated,” with concerns about further explosions slowing response efforts.

Rescue teams faced additional hurdles due to the factory’s remote, mountainous location and lack of a major water source. “Over 20 hours of nonstop rescue efforts included the use of remote-controlled water cannons to control the fire,” the report stated.

State news agency Xinhua reported that the Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a team to the site to oversee rescue operations.

The ministry also stressed the need for a swift investigation, urging officials to determine the cause of the blast and hold those responsible accountable.

Industrial accidents remain frequent in China, often linked to poor enforcement of safety regulations. Just last month, a chemical plant explosion in Shandong province killed at least five people. In 2015, a massive explosion at a chemical warehouse in Tianjin claimed over 170 lives and injured more than 700.