An explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s southern Hunan province killed nine people and injured 26 others, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.
The blast occurred around 8:23 a.m. local time Monday at a facility owned by Hunan Shanzhou Fireworks Company Ltd., situated in a mountainous area roughly 60 km (37 miles) north of Changde city.
Footage aired by state media showed thick smoke and fireballs as fireworks erupted from the blaze, while emergency responders worked to assess the damage. Firefighters took over 20 hours to bring the inferno under control.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a team to the scene, Xinhua reported.
The incident comes amid ongoing concerns over industrial safety. Just weeks earlier, an explosion at a chemical plant in northeastern China left at least five dead. Despite repeated crackdowns, mishandling of hazardous materials remains a persistent risk in the country’s sprawling manufacturing sector.
China has a history of deadly industrial accidents, most notably the 2015 Tianjin port warehouse explosions, which killed over 170 people and injured hundreds more, leading to a nationwide overhaul of chemical safety regulations.
On Tuesday, Hunan provincial governor Mao Weiming visited the blast site and urged a thorough investigation, calling for accountability and enhanced safety enforcement.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Changde, the Hunan Shanzhou Fireworks Company employs 95 people and manufactures components for fireworks, explosives, and detonators, according to Chinese business registry Qichacha.
Reuters/s.s