Horror explosion at fireworks factory kills at least 26 people | World | News
An explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s central province killed at least 26 people and injured 61 others, authorities reported Tuesday.
China’s official news agency, Xinhua, said the explosion occurred at a fireworks factory in Changsha, Hunan province, on Monday afternoon. According to the Xinhua report, nearly 500 rescue workers were deployed to the scene, and residents of dangerous areas were evacuated by authorities due to the high risk at two black powder depots near the explosion site.
State media China Daily reported that the facility was owned by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. He said it was operated by.
Changsha mayor Chen Bozhang said that search and rescue efforts at the scene were largely completed, but verification of the identities of the dead and injured was still ongoing.
Aerial footage from state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday showed facilities collapsed or damaged, with white smoke still billowing in some parts of the facility.
Xinhua also reported that authorities were investigating the cause of the explosion and police detained the person responsible for the company.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to search for people who are still missing and to rescue the injured. The report stated that it called on the authorities to quickly investigate the cause of the incident and take serious responsibility. Xi also instructed to strengthen effective risk screening and hazard control and public safety management in key industries.
To prevent further accidents during the operation, rescue teams took precautions such as spraying and humidification to eliminate possible dangers.
They also deployed three robots to assist in the search and rescue operation.
Liuyang has a long history of producing fireworks. The Guinness World Records organization said the Chinese firework, the first accurately documented firework, was attributed to Li Tian, a monk who lived near Liuyang during China’s Tang dynasty, between 618 and 907 AD. Guinness said Li discovered that putting gunpowder into closed hollow bamboo stalks created loud explosions, and combining crackers together created traditional New Year’s fireworks to ward off evil spirits.
