Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 26 people

A blast at a fireworks factory in Hunan province has killed 26 people and injured 61, state media report. China: 26 dead after explosion at fireworks factory Huge plume rises from Chinese fireworks factory after fatal explosion Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Grey smoke rising out from a residential district Explosion at China fireworks factory kills 26 people Watch: Drone footage reveals aftermath of fatal explosion at China fireworks factory A large plume of smoke rises from a factory with mountains behind it. An explosion at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed 26 people and left 61 wounded, according to state media. An explosion at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed 26 people and left 61 wounded, according to state media. Rescue operations have wrapped up at the Huasheng Fireworks plant in the southern city of Liuyang, after an explosion on Monday afternoon forced authorities to evacuate everyone within a 3km (1.9 mile) radius of the plant. Authorities deployed more than 1,500 emergency responders, along with dogs, drones and robots. They rescued seven people who were trapped under debris. Police, who are investigating the cause of the blast, have taken "control measures" against the staff in charge of the fireworks company, Chinese state media reported. Police, who are investigating the cause of the blast, have taken "control measures" against the staff in charge of the fireworks company, Chinese state media reported. Rescue teams had to evacuate everyone within a 3km (1.9mi) radius of the fireworks plant Fire rescue forces carry out rescue operations after an explosion at a fireworks plant on May 5, 2026 in Liuyang Authorities said that two gunpowder warehouses within the factory area had posed a high risk amid rescue efforts, state media reported. Authorities said that two gunpowder warehouses within the factory area had posed a high risk amid rescue efforts, state media reported. Besides evacuating people near the fireworks plant, rescuers also implemented measures like humidifying the area to "prevent secondary accidents during the rescue". 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. The ages of the injured range from their 20s to 60s, and some suffered bone injuries after being hit by flying debris, said the CCTV report. 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. 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. Local authorities said on Tuesday that they were monitoring the vicinity's water and air qualities, and that the relevant environmental indicators were normal. Map of China showing Hunan province highlighted in white, with the city of Liuyang marked in red. Major reference points include Beijing to the north and Hong Kong on the southern coast. China, North Korea, and South Korea are labelled. 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. Liuyang city is known for fireworks manufacturing, touted in reports as the world's largest producer of fireworks. Blasts at fireworks factories and shops are not uncommon in China - and are often deadly. In February, 12 people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks store in Hubei province. Analysts say the daughter of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is not just growing up - she’s being styled for succession. Kim Ju Ae's evolving fashion is one of the signs that she is being groomed as North Korea's next leader. The Boeing 737 plane crashed into a Chinese hillside in 2022, killing all 132 people on board. It is unclear how he reached Eswatini. China described his visit as a "stowaway-style escape farce". 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