"An explosion at a fireworks manufacturing plant in Liuyang, Hunan province, China, on Monday afternoon resulted in at least 26 fatalities and 61 injuries."
Incident Details
The explosion occurred at approximately 4:40 pm local time (08:40 GMT) on Monday at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a city under the administration of Changsha, Hunan's capital.
The plant contained a large amount of products or semi-finished products that caught fire, causing continuous, sporadic blasts. Large quantities of gunpowder stored in two black powder warehouses within the factory compound were cited as posing a risk to rescue teams.
Casualties and Rescue
Confirmed casualties include 26 dead and 61 injured. Search and rescue operations have been largely completed, though casualty verification and victim identification are ongoing. The number of missing people has not been officially disclosed.
Nearly 500 rescuers were deployed to the scene. Three robots were used in a human-machine coordinated approach to assist in search and rescue operations. Measures such as spraying and humidification were implemented to prevent further accidents. Residents in danger zones were evacuated, leading to the establishment of a 1 km rescue area and a 3 km control zone.
Official Response
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to search for individuals who were missing, treat the injured, and a swift investigation into the cause of the explosion.
The President ordered that those responsible be held strictly accountable and called for strengthened risk screening and hazard control in key industries to improve public safety management. Premier Li Qiang urged a far-reaching evaluation of workplace safety measures.
The person in charge of the company has been detained by police. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast. All fireworks and firecracker manufacturers in Liuyang have been ordered to halt production.
Background
Liuyang is a major hub for fireworks manufacturing, producing approximately 70% of China's fireworks exports and 60% of the domestic market. In 2023, China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks, accounting for more than two-thirds of global sales.
A previous major accident at a fireworks factory in Liuyang in 2019 killed 13 and injured 17. In that incident, local authorities initially underreported the death toll; an investigation later corrected the figure. In February, two deadly explosions occurred at fireworks shops around the lunar new year period.