Fireworks factory explosion in China kills 21, injures 61

A massive explosion tore through a fireworks manufacturing facility in central China on Monday, killing at least 21 people and leaving 61 others injured. The blast has drawn the attention of the country's top leadership, with President Xi Jinping personally ordering a full investigation.

The explosion struck the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang — a city under the jurisdiction of Changsha, Hunan's provincial capital — at around 4:40 p.m. local time. Liuyang is one of China's most prominent hubs for fireworks production, making the disaster particularly significant for the industry.

Videos circulating on Chinese social media captured the scale of the devastation — continuous blasts sending a towering cloud of smoke high into the sky above the surrounding mountains. Drone footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV a day later showed smouldering debris where factory buildings once stood, with roofs blown off structures that remained partially upright and rubble scattered across a wide area.

Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel were rushed to the scene. Authorities established a three-kilometre control zone around the blast site and evacuated residents from the surrounding area. The central government also dispatched experts to guide and coordinate the rescue operation, with teams and excavators working through the wreckage in search of survivors.

Chinese president Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to save the injured and locate those still unaccounted for. He directed authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the blast and pursue serious accountability. Xi also issued broader instructions for rigorous safety screening and hazard controls across high-risk industries, as well as a strengthening of public safety management nationwide.

The disaster is not an isolated incident. Last year, a similar explosion at another fireworks factory in Hunan killed nine people. In 2023, blasts struck residential buildings in the northern city of Tianjin, claiming three lives. The repeated incidents have raised persistent questions about safety standards in China's fireworks manufacturing sector.