Fireworks explosions in China have killed at least 26 people and injured dozens, state media said.
In Beijing – An explosion at an explosives factory in a central Chinese province killed at least 26 people and injured 61, authorities reported Tuesday.
China's Xinhua news agency said the explosion occurred at a factory in the city of Changsha in Hunan province on Monday afternoon. State media China Daily said the facility is operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in the controlled city of Changsha, which is at the level of Liuyang county, which is a famous center for fireworks.
Changsha Mayor Chen Bozhang said that the search and rescue operations at the scene have been largely completed, but the confirmation of the dead and the identification of the victims are still ongoing.
Aerial footage from state-run CCTV on Tuesday showed white smoke billowing from some parts of the area, with facilities collapsed or damaged.
Chen Sihan / Xinhua via AP
About 500 rescuers were deployed to the scene and residents in the danger zone were evacuated by authorities, citing the danger from two black warehouses near the blast site, Xinhua reported.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the explosion and police arrested the company's manager, Xinhua said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to search for people whose whereabouts are still unknown and to save the injured. He asked the authorities to investigate the cause immediately and pursue accountability, the report said. Xi also ordered effective risk assessment and risk management in key industries and the strengthening of public safety management.
cnsphoto via Reuters 
In order to prevent other accidents during the operation, the rescuers have taken measures such as spraying and humidification to eliminate possible accidents.
They also deployed three robots to help with search and rescue operations.
Liuyang has a long history of producing fireworks. Guinness World Records stated that the first accurately recorded firecracker, a Chinese firecracker, was named after Li Tian, a monk who lived near Liuyang during China's Tang dynasty from 618 to 907 CE. Li discovered that placing a gun in a sealed bamboo pole created a large explosion and combined traditional fire crackers to detonate evil spirits. said.
In February, China reported two deaths explosions in fireworks stores during the New Year.
Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity showed that last year, China exported fireworks worth 1.14 billion dollars, accounting for more than two-thirds of global sales, Reuters news agency reported.
