Explosion at fireworks factory in China kills at least 21 people , state media says | China

A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, prompting the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.

The explosion in Liuyang, under the administration of Hunan’s capital city of Changsha and a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday at about 4:40pm. (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.

Social media footage showed massive plumes of smoke billowing up into clear blue skies against a backdrop of lush, green mountains. Reuters verified the location shown in the footage, which was posted on social media on 4 May, as Changsha.

Nearly 500 rescuers were deployed and people were evacuated from danger zones by authorities who citied the risk from two black powder warehouses, the report said.

Emergency workers were using three robots to help with the search and rescue operation.

Two black powder storage warehouses within the factory compound posed high-risk hazards, the report said, adding that authorities had evacuated residents from danger zones, established a 1km rescue area and a 3km control zone. The blast happened at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, state media said.

Authorities were investigating the cause and had taken “control measures” against those in charge of the company, the report said, without specifying the measures.

The person in charge of the company has been detained and the cause of the accident was being investigated, state-run China Daily reported.

Xi called for a speedy investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and strict accountability for the incident, Xinhua reported.

Xi also ordered authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries, enhance public safety and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property. Xi often issues “important instructions” to local officials after major accidents and disasters with fatalities. Last week, he urged a nationwide upgrade in China’s disaster response capacity.

In February, China reported two deadly explosions at fireworks shops around the lunar new year period.

Last year, China exported $1.14bn worth of fireworks, more than two-thirds of global sales, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity showed.

With Associated Press and Reuters