The death toll from a devastating explosion at a fireworks factory in Central China has risen to 26, according to the latest updates from state media on Tuesday morning. The blast occurred at a facility operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a city under the administration of the provincial capital, Changsha.
The explosion took place at approximately 4:43 PM local time on Monday, May 4, 2024. While initial reports confirmed 21 deaths, a second round of search operations on Tuesday morning uncovered five more victims.
Key Details of the Incident
The blast site is located in Guandu Township, an area known as a global hub for fireworks production. The scale of the explosion was significant enough to cause damage to homes in nearby villages.
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Casualties: 26 confirmed dead; 61 injured and currently receiving treatment at Liuyang People’s Hospital.
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Rescue Efforts: Nearly 500 rescuers across five teams were deployed to the scene. Due to the high risk of secondary explosions from two nearby black powder warehouses, authorities utilized three rescue robots for the search.
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Evacuations: Residents within a 1km rescue area were evacuated, and a 3km control zone was established to prevent further casualties.
Government Response and Investigation
President Xi Jinping has ordered “all-out efforts” to save the injured and demanded a swift, thorough investigation into the cause of the disaster.
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Detentions: Local police have already taken the person in charge of the Huasheng factory into custody as part of the ongoing probe.
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Safety Shutdown: Following the tragedy, all other fireworks and firecracker manufacturers in Liuyang have been ordered to halt production immediately for safety inspections.
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National Impact: The incident has prompted a nationwide safety review, particularly as China currently observes its Labor Day holiday period.
Eyewitness Accounts
Local residents described scenes of chaos, with some reporting that the force of the blast was strong enough to shatter windows and deform aluminum frames several kilometers away. Aerial footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed thick white smoke still billowing from the charred remains of collapsed factory workshops on Tuesday morning.
This tragedy occurs just as the global fireworks industry—of which China controls over two-thirds of the market share—was ramping up production following several other safety-related incidents reported earlier this year.
