At least 21 people were killed and 61 injured in a large explosion at a fireworks plant in Hunan province, officials said. The blast struck on Monday afternoon at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a county-level city administered by Changsha, the provincial capital.
Footage shared on Chinese social media showed heavy damage extending across several kilometres. More than 480 rescuers, organised into five teams, have been deployed to the scene, and three rescue robots have been used in the operation.
Rescue authorities said the wounded were taken to hospitals for treatment and a second sweep of the site is underway. Because the blast occurred close to two black powder warehouses, teams evacuated nearby residents and established a safety buffer to reduce the risk of further explosions.
The Ministry of Emergency Management sent experts to assist and coordinate the rescue work. Police have detained the company’s person in charge, and investigators are probing the cause of the accident. China is a major global manufacturer and exporter of fireworks.
