Explosion at China Fireworks Factory Kills 26 and Injures 61 in Hunan Province

An explosion at a fireworks manufacturing plant in Liuyang, China, killed 26 people and injured 61 others on Monday afternoon. m. in a workshop at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, located in the Changsha-administered, county-level city of Liuyang in Hunan province.

Authorities reported the explosion details on Tuesday, with the death toll rising to 26 as rescue efforts progressed. The explosion killed 3 people initially, but the toll increased as more victims were found, while injuring 25 in early reports that later updated to 61.

Many of the injured suffered bone injuries, often from flying debris, and were taken to Liuyang People’s Hospital and Liuyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for emergency treatment.

Six of the injured were in intensive care, according to Liu Jiayong, party secretary of the Health Commission of Changsha City. The ages of the injured ranged from their 20s to 60s, with the oldest victim being 68 years old and the youngest in their 20s.

Rescue operations at the facility wrapped up after deploying more than 1,500 personnel from fire, emergency response, public security, and health departments.

Hundreds of rescuers were sent to the scene, using dogs, drones, and several robots to aid the search. They saved seven people trapped under debris and adopted measures such as spraying and humidification to eliminate potential hazards and prevent secondary accidents.

A search and rescue operation at the scene has largely been completed, but verification of the casualties and identification of the victims is still underway.

The site had a large amount of products or semifinished products catching fire, causing continuous, sporadic blasts. Large quantities of gunpowder stored in the warehouse area threatened the safety of rescue teams, while the collapse of walls, columns, and the roof in the factory area created ruins, with people trapped and routes blocked.

Authorities cited high risks from two black powder warehouses near the explosion site, which posed a high risk amid rescue efforts.

Rescuers implemented measures like humidifying the area to prevent secondary accidents during the rescue. Authorities evacuated residents in danger zones, including everyone within a 3km radius of the plant. The impact of the blast shattered windows of a nearby residential building, according to a CCTV reporter.

Local authorities are monitoring the vicinity's water and air qualities, and relevant environmental indicators were normal. Changsha mayor Chen Bozhang said at a media briefing that the local government expressed condolences for the victims and apologized to society, including the families and injured people. “We feel extremely pained and deeply remorseful,” Chen Bozhang said.

Ding Weiming, the Changsha Emergency Management Bureau's party secretary, described the challenges at the site, noting the fire and gunpowder risks. Police have detained the person in charge of the company and taken control measures against the staff in charge of the fireworks company. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast.

All fireworks and firecracker manufacturers in Liuyang have been ordered to halt production. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out efforts to search for people who are still unaccounted for and to save the injured. Xi Jinping called on authorities to investigate the cause swiftly and pursue serious accountability.

Xi Jinping ordered effective risk screening and hazard control in key industries and the strengthening of public safety management. Liuyang city is known for fireworks manufacturing and is the world's largest producer of fireworks.

Li Tian discovered that putting gunpowder in enclosed hollow bamboo stems created loud explosions and bound crackers together to create the traditional new year firecrackers to drive out evil spirits, according to Guinness World Records. In February, 12 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks store in Hubei province.

In February, China reported two deadly explosions at fireworks shops around the Lunar New Year period.