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Explosion at China Fireworks Factory Kills 26, Injures 61 in Hunan
An explosion at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, China, killed 26 people and injured 61 on Monday afternoon. Rescue operations involving over 1,500 personnel concluded, with authorities detaining company staff and investigating the cause. President Xi Jinping ordered full efforts to treat the injured and prevent future incidents.
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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.
