Death toll from Hunan fireworks plant blast rises to 37; one person still missing

The death toll from a fireworks plant explosion in central China has risen to 37, state media reported Friday, with one person still unaccounted for. The blast occurred Monday at a facility in Hunan province. Authorities said the cause remains under investigation and ordered a halt to all fireworks manufacturing in the surrounding area.

Initial reports indicated that more than 60 people were injured. According to China Daily, the plant was operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. and is located in Liuyang, a county-level city administered by Changsha in Hunan. Liuyang is a major center of China’s fireworks industry.

The city’s ties to fireworks stretch back centuries. The Guinness World Records organization attributes the first accurately documented firework—the Chinese firecracker—to Li Tian, a monk who lived near Liuyang during the Tang dynasty, around 618 to 907 C.E. In February, authorities reported two deadly explosions at fireworks shops around the Lunar New Year period, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the sector.

Local officials said rescue and recovery efforts were continuing as the investigation proceeds and the production suspension remains in place.