A devastating explosion at a fireworks factory in southern China has left at least 26 people dead and 61 others injured, triggering a huge emergency response and forcing nearby residents to flee their homes.
The blast ripped through the Huasheng Fireworks plant in Liuyang, a city in China’s Hunan province known globally for its fireworks industry. Authorities said rescue operations have now concluded after crews spent hours combing through wreckage and unstable structures.
Drone footage released from the scene showed widespread destruction, shattered buildings, and smoke still rising from the industrial site.
Rescue Teams Race Against Dangerous Conditions
Authorities mobilized more than 1,500 emergency personnel following Monday afternoon’s explosion. Search teams used dogs, drones, and robots to locate survivors trapped beneath debris.
Officials confirmed that seven people were rescued alive from the wreckage.
However, the rescue mission carried serious risks. State media reported that two gunpowder warehouses inside the factory complex posed an ongoing danger during operations.
Besides evacuating people near the fireworks plant, rescuers also implemented measures like humidifying the area to “prevent secondary accidents during the rescue”.
Authorities ordered everyone living within a 3km radius of the factory to evacuate as a precaution.
Nearby Homes Damaged By Powerful Blast
The force of the explosion extended well beyond the factory grounds.
The impact of the blast was so destructive that windows of a nearby residential building were shattered, a CCTV reporter noted in a televised broadcast from the scene.
Residents described scenes of chaos and destruction as shockwaves tore through nearby villages.
Speaking to Beijing News, a resident who lives about 1km away from the factory said villagers now have to take detours after stones were blasted onto the road.
“The glass windows in our homes were shattered, aluminum window frames were deformed, and even the stainless-steel doors were twisted out of shape,” she said.
Another resident told the news outlet that she has left the village out of fear.
Injuries Reported Across Multiple Age Groups
Authorities said victims ranged in age from their 20s to 60s. Several people reportedly suffered bone injuries after being struck by debris hurled by the explosion.
Medical teams rushed the wounded to nearby hospitals as rescue crews continued searching for missing workers.
Meanwhile, environmental officials said they were monitoring local air and water quality after concerns emerged about possible contamination following the blast.
Local authorities said on Tuesday that they were monitoring the vicinity’s water and air qualities, and that the relevant environmental indicators were normal.
President Xi Jinping Calls For Investigation
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to make every effort to locate missing people and treat the injured.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to search for the missing and save the injured. He also called for an investigation into the accident to hold those responsible to account, state media reported.
Police have already begun investigating the cause of the explosion. According to state media, authorities have taken “control measures” against staff members responsible for the fireworks company.
Liuyang’s Massive Fireworks Industry Under Scrutiny
The explosion has once again placed attention on industrial safety standards within China’s fireworks manufacturing sector.
Liuyang city is known for fireworks manufacturing, touted in reports as the world’s largest producer of fireworks.
The city has long been a major hub for fireworks production, supplying displays and pyrotechnics worldwide. Still, accidents involving explosive materials remain a recurring concern in parts of China where chemical and fireworks factories operate close to residential communities.
As investigators continue examining what triggered the deadly explosion, families across Liuyang are now mourning loved ones lost in one of the country’s deadliest industrial disasters this year.
