An explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan province, China, resulted in the deaths of 21 individuals and left 61 others injured. In light of this, President Xi Jinping has called for a comprehensive investigation, according to state media reports from Tuesday.
The incident took place in Liuyang, a city linked to Changsha, the provincial capital known for its fireworks production, around 4:40 PM (local time) on Monday, as reported by CCTV and Xinhua News Agency.
Video from Xinhua showed dense smoke enveloping a wide area filled with collapsed structures and debris.
Nearly 500 rescuers, divided into five teams, along with three rescue robots, were sent to the site. They conducted a systematic search using innovative human-machine methods, as reported by Xinhua.
The investigation revealed that two black powder storage warehouses within the factory posed significant risks. Authorities evacuated local residents and established a one-kilometer rescue zone alongside a three-kilometer control zone.
State media identified the factory as the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Exhibition Company.
Efforts to reach the company for comments were unsuccessful, as Reuters could not locate any contact numbers.
According to the state-run China Daily, the company’s person of responsibility has been detained while the accident’s cause is still under investigation.
Xinhua reported that President Xi has urged for a prompt inquiry into the explosion and emphasized accountability for those involved.
In the previous year, China exported fireworks worth $1.14 billion, which represented more than two-thirds of global sales, based on data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Additionally, President Xi instructed authorities to enhance risk assessments and hazard management in critical sectors, reinforcing public safety and protecting citizens’ lives and property.
This isn’t the first time Mr. Xi has made significant remarks following disasters. Recently, he stressed the need to bolster disaster response throughout the country. He also issued similar directives after a tragic fire in Hong Kong’s Wang Fu Court complex in November that resulted in 168 deaths.
