Death Toll Rises to 37 in China Fireworks Factory Blast
The death toll from a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in Liuyang city, Hunan province of China, has climbed to 37, with one person still missing, making it the deadliest industrial blast in the country since 2019. The tragic incident occurred on Monday at around 4:40 PM local time at a fireworks manufacturing unit in the region known as China’s fireworks capital.
Liuyang produces around 60 percent of China’s domestic fireworks and supplies nearly 70 percent of the world’s exports. The powerful blast caused widespread destruction, leaving rubble and damaged buildings across the site. Rescue and on-site investigation work has now been completed, according to state media.
Currently, 51 injured people are receiving treatment in various hospitals. An official investigation has been launched into the cause of the explosion. Police have summoned eight individuals for questioning on suspicion of negligence or safety violations that may have led to the disaster. The probe is being supervised by China’s top prosecutors.
In response to the tragedy, authorities in Hunan province have ordered the immediate suspension of all fireworks manufacturing plants in Liuyang for thorough safety inspections. This move aims to prevent similar accidents in the future.
This is not the first such incident in the region. In June this year, another fireworks factory explosion in Hunan killed nine people. The deadliest recent industrial disaster in China was a 2019 chemical plant blast in Jiangsu province that claimed 78 lives.
The latest China fireworks factory blast has once again raised serious concerns about safety standards and regulatory enforcement in the country’s large fireworks industry. Many families are mourning the loss of loved ones while the search continues for the missing worker.
