At least 21 people have been killed and 61 others injured following an explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province.
The blast occurred on Monday at around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) in Changsha, the provincial capital and a major hub for fireworks manufacturing, Reuters reported, citing Xinhua.
Nearly 500 firefighters, rescue workers, and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene, the South China Morning Post reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for a swift investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and emphasized strict accountability.
He also directed authorities to strengthen risk assessments, improve hazard control in key industries, and enhance public safety measures to protect lives and property.
According to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks last year, accounting for more than two-thirds of global sales.
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