Liuyang fireworks factory blast kills 21, injures 61; Xi urges search and probe

A powerful explosion at the Changsha Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks plant in Liuyang, Hunan province, killed 21 people and injured 61 on Monday afternoon, state media reported. The blast occurred at about 16:40 local time (08:40 GMT) and sent smoke and debris across the area, triggering a sweeping emergency response and evacuations.

Authorities cleared everyone within a 3km (1.9mi) radius of the factory as nearly 500 emergency workers, including medical teams and firefighters, were deployed for search, rescue and treatment, according to official updates. Robots were used to enter damaged areas to look for people who might still be trapped and to reduce risks to rescuers.

Officials said two gunpowder warehouses on the factory grounds posed serious danger, and crews humidified parts of the zone to “prevent secondary accidents during the rescue” while evacuation orders remained in place. The force of the explosion shattered windows in nearby residential buildings, a CCTV reporter at the scene said.

Residents described widespread damage. A woman living about 1km from the plant told Beijing News that glass windows were blown out, aluminum frames were warped and some stainless-steel doors were twisted, adding that stones blasted onto roads forced villagers to take detours.

Another resident said she had left the village out of fear. Police opened an investigation into what triggered the blast and state media said officers had taken “control measures” against the person in charge of the company while inquiries continue. President Xi Jinping called for intensive search efforts to find anyone still missing and for full treatment of the injured.

Reports said he also demanded a detailed probe of the accident and accountability under Chinese law. Xinhua reported that nearly 500 emergency workers remained on duty after the explosion, and authorities cautioned that risks from remaining gunpowder stores require careful operations even as pressure mounts to locate any survivors quickly.

Liuyang is a major base for fireworks manufacturing and is often described as the world’s largest producer. Deadly blasts at fireworks factories and shops are common in China; in February, 12 people died in an explosion at a fireworks store in Hubei province, intensifying concern over safety enforcement.

The Liuyang investigation is ongoing as rescue and recovery work continues under tight safety precautions.