BEIJING: The death toll from a massive explosion at a fireworks manufacturing facility in China has climbed to 37, up from an earlier count of 26, with one person still reported missing, according to state media.
The incident occurred in the southern province of Hunan and is being described as the deadliest industrial blast in the country since 2019.
The explosion took place at approximately 4:40pm local time (0840 GMT) on Monday at a fireworks factory located in Liuyang, a city widely recognised as China’s “fireworks capital”.
The area plays a central role in the country’s pyrotechnics industry, producing around 60 per cent of domestic fireworks supply and nearly 70 per cent of exports.
State news agency Xinhua reported on Friday that emergency response operations have now been completed at the site.
Rescue teams have concluded on-site searches and recovery efforts following the blast, which left widespread destruction, with factory buildings reduced to rubble and surrounding infrastructure severely damaged.
Authorities confirmed that 51 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment in hospitals. Medical teams continue to monitor their condition, though no further details on the severity of injuries have been released.
An official investigation into the cause of the explosion has been launched. Police have summoned eight individuals for questioning on suspicion of involvement in the incident, as part of a broader inquiry into potential safety violations or operational negligence.
The investigation is being overseen by China’s top prosecutorial authorities, reflecting the seriousness of the case.
In response to the tragedy, local authorities in Hunan have ordered the immediate suspension of operations at all fireworks manufacturing plants in Liuyang pending comprehensive safety inspections.
This latest disaster has once again drawn attention to industrial safety standards in China’s fireworks sector.
In a similar incident in June, a fireworks factory explosion in the same province killed nine people, raising concerns over repeated safety lapses. Historically, China has witnessed several major industrial accidents.
In 2019, a chemical plant explosion in Jiangsu province, in the east of the country, claimed 78 lives, underscoring ongoing challenges in enforcing workplace safety regulations in high-risk industries.
