A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
The blast in Hunan's capital city of Changsha, home to a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.
Videos on Chinese internet platforms showed thick smoke billowing from a large site with collapsed buildings and debris strewn around the area. Reuters could not verify the footage.
Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical personnel attended the scene, according to the South China Morning Post.
The blast happened at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, media said. Reuters could not find a telephone listing for the company to seek comment.
Xi called for a speedy investigation to determine the cause of the blast and strict accountability for the incident, Xinhua reported.
Last year, China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks, more than two-thirds of global sales, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows.
Xi also ordered authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries, enhance public safety and ensure the safety of people's lives and property.
Xi often issues "important instructions" to local officials after major accidents and disasters with fatalities. Last week, he urged a nationwide upgrade in China's disaster response capacity.
Xi had also issued instructions after a blaze in Hong Kong in November at the Wang Fuk Court complex that killed 168 people.
Four people, including two schoolchildren, have died after a train collided with a school minivan at a level crossing in the northern Belgian town of ...
UK shop price inflation rose to 1.2% in May from 1.0% in April as retailers continued to face mounting cost pressures across supply chains, according ...
The U.S. military has said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U...
A Palestinian shepherd says her family’s Eid al-Adha preparations were destroyed after dozens of sheep were allegedly stolen in a pre-dawn raid in t...
Seven people have died in France in incidents linked directly or indirectly to an ongoing early-summer heatwave, as large parts of western Europe cont...
UK shop price inflation rose to 1.2% in May from 1.0% in April as retailers continued to face mounting cost pressures across supply chains, according to new industry data.
The U.S. military has said it carried out defensive strikes in southern Iran after boats were seen laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said peace talks could drag out for several more days while the language of a deal is finalised.
A Palestinian shepherd says her family’s Eid al-Adha preparations were destroyed after dozens of sheep were allegedly stolen in a pre-dawn raid in the West Bank, leaving her without both a religious sacrifice and her family’s main source of income.
Seven people have died in France in incidents linked directly or indirectly to an ongoing early-summer heatwave, as large parts of western Europe continue to experience unusually high temperatures.
A peace agreement between Washington and Tehran is yet to materialise, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying that negotiations are incomplete and an Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman saying that a deal isn't imminent.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 25th May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The World Health Organization warned on Monday that the fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda was outpacing response efforts, with 220 suspected deaths reported so far.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 26 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
As dawn broke on Monday, pilgrims began arriving at the sacred site of Mina west of Mecca, marking the start of Hajj - one of the most significant spiritual journeys in Islam.
UK shop price inflation rose to 1.2% in May from 1.0% in April as retailers continued to face mounting cost pressures across supply chains, according to new industry data.
Four people, including two schoolchildren, have died after a train collided with a school minivan at a level crossing in the northern Belgian town of Buggenhout on Tuesday morning, authorities have confirmed.
Seven people have died in France in incidents linked directly or indirectly to an ongoing early-summer heatwave, as large parts of western Europe continue to experience unusually high temperatures.
Thai-based cave divers have joined international efforts to rescue seven villagers trapped in a flooded gold mining cave in remote Laos after days of heavy rain cut off access underground.
Emergency teams rescued 320 tourists stranded in 65 cable cars in Kashmir after a gondola disruption triggered a six-hour evacuation operation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment