The death toll from a powerful explosion at a fireworks factory in central China's Hunan province has risen to 26, following the recovery of more victims from the site. The incident occurred on Monday at a manufacturing facility owned by the Huashen company located in the city of Liuyang.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Chinese media reports, Changsha Mayor Chen Bojan confirmed the updated casualty figures during a press conference. In addition to the fatalities, 61 people sustained various degrees of injuries and are receiving medical treatment. Emergency response efforts involved five rescue brigades totaling 482 personnel. The blast was so intense that the resulting shockwave caused significant damage to buildings within a 300-to-400-meter radius of the epicenter.
Hunan province, and specifically the city of Liuyang, is globally recognized as a primary hub for the production of pyrotechnics, accounting for a large share of both domestic and international supply. While the Chinese government has significantly tightened safety protocols and industrial standards for the fireworks sector in recent years, the high-risk nature of the manufacturing process continues to pose challenges. Local authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the detonation and to assess safety compliance at the Huashen facility.
