Blast at fireworks factory in China kills 21: Report
A blast at a fireworks factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, China, killed 21 people and injured 61 others. President Xi Jinping has called for a thorough investigation and strict accountability, while rescue operations involving nearly 500 personnel and robots are underway. The explosion occurred at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, a facility with high-risk storage warehouses.
- ▪The explosion took place on May 4, 2026, at around 4:40 p.m. local time in Liuyang, Hunan province.
- ▪Five rescue teams totaling nearly 500 personnel and three rescue robots were deployed using a 'human–machine coordinated approach.'
- ▪Two black powder storage warehouses at the factory posed high-risk hazards, prompting evacuations and the establishment of a 3 km control zone.
- ▪The person in charge of Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company has been detained pending investigation.
- ▪China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks last year, accounting for over two-thirds of global sales.
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World News Blast at fireworks factory in China kills 21: Report By Reuters Published May 5, 2026, 3:25 a.m. ET A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, prompting a call from President Xi Jinping for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday. The explosion in Liuyang, under the administration of Hunan’s capital city of Changsha and a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday at around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua. Social media footage showed massive plumes of smoke billowing up into clear blue skies against a backdrop of lush, green mountains. Reuters verified the location shown in the footage, which was posted on social media on May 4, as Changsha.
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