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Explosion at China Fireworks Factory Kills 21, Injures 61 in Liuyang
A blast at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, Hunan province, killed 21 people and injured 61 on Monday afternoon. President Xi Jinping ordered a thorough investigation and strict accountability. Rescue efforts involved nearly 500 personnel and measures to prevent secondary hazards.
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An explosion at a fireworks factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, killed 21 people and injured 61 others, according to Chinese state media reports cited across multiple outlets. The blast occurred in a workshop at the plant on Tuesday morning local time.
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Rescue operations involved nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel, who deployed three robots to assist in search-and-rescue efforts at the site.
Authorities evacuated residents within a 3-kilometer radius due to risks from two black powder warehouses at the factory. Rescuers sprayed and humidified the area to mitigate potential hazards and prevent secondary accidents. The injured, ranging in age from their 20s to 60s, included some with bone injuries from flying debris, a CCTV report said.
Videos from the scene showed thick smoke, collapsed buildings and debris scattered across the area. A CCTV reporter observed that windows of a nearby residential building were shattered.
One resident living about 1 kilometer away told Beijing News that stones were blasted onto the road, forcing villagers to take detours. The resident described glass windows in homes being shattered, aluminum window frames deformed and stainless-steel doors twisted out of shape.
Aerial footage from CCTV showed white smoke still rising from damaged facilities the following day, with debris strewn around. The explosion's impact reached neighboring villages, where residents reported broken doors and windows, and some left the area.
President Xi Jinping instructed authorities to carry out a thorough investigation, impose strict accountability, save the injured and search for anyone unaccounted for. He also directed strengthened risk screening and hazard control in key industries to enhance public safety and protect lives and property, according to Xinhua.
