An explosive boom occurred at a fireworks factory in central China, resulting in 21 dead and 61 injured, as stated by Chinese state media on Tuesday. The accident happened at the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Hunan province. It took place around 4:43 pm last Monday.
In addition, eyewitness videos have been uploaded showing how dreadful the situation was. Numerous blasts were heard from all corners of the mountain. Smoke was seen rising above it. A day after the blast, aerial images showed that much devastation had taken place. Rescuers could be seen walking amid the wreckage of destroyed buildings, whose roofs had been blown off. Smoke was still rising.
Rescue and emergency response efforts intensify
Almost immediately following the explosion, the rescue mission began. Over 480 rescuers were deployed to the site. A control zone within three kilometers was set up for evacuation. Specialists sent by the central government joined the mission to help search and evaluate the losses.
At the same time, the management of the company was put under arrest for investigation of the explosion causes. President of China Xi Jinping instructed authorities to do their best to render medical aid to the wounded and find those missing.
Recurring safety concerns in China’s fireworks industry
However, this disaster is far from unique. Liuyang enjoys the reputation of being one of the world’s major producers of fireworks. Even though this activity brings substantial profit to the town, its producers have constantly been blamed for violations of safety measures.
Over the past few years, there have been several cases of explosions that caused loss of human life. Last year, a similar explosion occurred in Hunan, leaving nine people dead. Previously, explosions had taken place in regions such as Tianjin, Hubei, and Jiangsu.
