Explosion at fireworks factory in China leaves at least 26 dead

The state newspaper China Daily noted that the facility was operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Liuyang, a county-level city administered by Changsha and a prominent fireworks production center.

In a press conference reported on state television CCTVthose responsible for the rescue operation explained that until this Tuesday morning they had mobilized more than 1,500 troops of the fire, emergency, public safety and health departments to carry out emergency tasks at the scene of the event.

Search and rescue efforts in the area were “practically completed” and authorities were monitoring air and water pollution levels, whose environmental indicators were “normal.”

“We are deeply saddened and full of remorse,” said Chen Bozhang, mayor of Changsha, capital of Hunan province, during the same appearance.

The noise occurred around 16:43 local time (08:43 GMT) on Monday in a workshop of the Huasheng company, dedicated to the manufacture and display of fireworks, located in the municipality of Liuyang, under the jurisdiction of Changsha.

Images broadcast on local internet platforms showed a thick column of smoke rising from the site of the explosion.

According to local media, The person in charge of the company has been arrested by the Police and the causes of the accident are being investigated.

After the explosion, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged to accelerate the search for missing people, to do “everything possible” to save the injured and to clarify “as soon as possible” the causes of the event, as well as to “rigorously determine responsibilities.”

The president also stressed that all regions and departments must draw “deep lessons” from this fact and “strengthen and strictly assume their responsibilities” in terms of security.

China frequently records accidents linked to the fireworks industry: twelve people died last February in the explosion of a fireworks store in the central province of Hubei, and another eight died in a similar incident that same month in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

With information from agencies.