At Least 21 Dead, 61 Injured in Massive Fireworks Factory Explosion in China

A powerful explosion ripped through a fireworks manufacturing facility in China’s Hunan province on May 4, killing 21 workers and injuring 61 others, according to local authorities and state media reports.

The blast occurred at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a region long known as a major hub for fireworks production. Rescue teams comprising more than 480 personnel were deployed to the site, while nearby villagers were evacuated amid concerns over stored black gunpowder that could trigger further explosions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident, with several executives already detained. He has also directed a nationwide safety inspection campaign targeting high-risk industries, including fireworks production.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. This latest tragedy underscores persistent safety challenges in China’s fireworks sector, which supplies much of the world with celebratory pyrotechnics but has a history of deadly industrial accidents.