Explosion at China Fireworks Factory Kills 21, Injures 61 in Hunan Province

Videos circulating on Chinese internet platforms captured thick smoke billowing from the site, with collapsed buildings and debris scattered across the area. Rescue operations mobilized nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers, and medical personnel to the scene, where they deployed three robots to assist in search-and-rescue efforts.

Authorities evacuated everyone within a 3-kilometer radius of the plant due to high risks from two black powder warehouses at the site.

To mitigate potential hazards and prevent secondary accidents, rescuers implemented measures such as spraying and humidifying the area. The injured ranged in age from their 20s to 60s, with some suffering bone injuries from flying debris, according to a CCTV report. A CCTV reporter noted that windows of a nearby residential building were shattered by the blast.

One resident, living about 1 kilometer away, told Beijing News that stones were blasted onto the road, forcing villagers to take detours. The same resident described how glass windows in homes were shattered, aluminum window frames deformed, and stainless-steel doors twisted out of shape.

President Xi Jinping called for a thorough investigation into the blast and strict accountability for those responsible, according to Xinhua.

He also ordered authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries, while enhancing public safety to ensure the protection of people's lives and property. Xi urged all-out efforts to save the injured and search for anyone still unaccounted for.

Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion and took control measures against those in charge of the company, including the person responsible for the fireworks firm, state media reported.

Police implemented unspecified control measures against company officials amid the probe. Liuyang serves as a major center for fireworks production, sustaining tens of thousands of jobs, as noted in a 2023 Xinhua report. 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.

The industry has faced safety challenges, with a 2019 explosion at another Liuyang fireworks factory killing 13 people, and a February blast at a fireworks store in Hubei province claiming 12 lives. The explosion's impact extended to neighboring villages, where residents reported broken doors and windows, and some left the area out of safety concerns.

Aerial footage from CCTV showed white smoke still rising from damaged facilities on Tuesday, with debris strewn around.

In a broader context, China reported over 18,000 workplace accident deaths last year, a 7 percent decline from 2024, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. Xi's instructions follow a pattern where he issues directives to local officials after major accidents, such as last week's call for a nationwide upgrade in disaster response capacity and responses to incidents like the November blaze at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court housing complex that killed 168 people.

The government often delays releasing full details of such accidents while gathering information.