At least 21 killed, 61 injured in blast at Changsha fireworks factory
At least 21 people were killed and 61 injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in the central China city of Changsha, Hunan province, on Monday afternoon. The blast occurred at 4.40pm and was powerful enough to shatter windows and damage houses across a wide area near the facility, local media reported.
More than 500 rescuers were dispatched to the site, according to the state-run China Daily. Residents living nearby were evacuated due to an ongoing risk of further explosions from two black powder warehouses at the site, Xinhua said. Aerial footage broadcast Tuesday by Chinese state television showed white plumes of smoke still billowing from parts of the complex, which is operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co.
The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. Officials said they have taken “control measures” against those in charge of the company, without specifying what that entails. Emergency crews sprayed water over the area to lower the risk of additional accidents and to protect rescuers, and three robots were deployed to assist the search-and-rescue operation.
Chinese president Xi Jinping issued a statement ordering “all-out efforts” to search for and rescue the missing and injured. He called for a swift investigation into the cause and for serious accountability measures. Xi also instructed authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries and to improve public safety management.
Changsha is a hub for fireworks manufacturing. China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks last year, accounting for more than two-thirds of global sales, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Accidents in the sector are relatively frequent; in February alone, two deadly explosions at fireworks shops were reported around the Lunar New Year period.
Rescue work and risk-reduction efforts continued Tuesday as authorities sought to stabilize the site and determine what triggered the blast.