21 Dead, 61 Injured in China Fireworks Blast

An explosion at a fireworks manufacturing plant in Liuyang City, Hunan Province, China, killed 21 people and injured 61 others on Monday afternoon, state media reported.

The blast occurred around 4:40 p.m. local time at the Huasheng Fireworks plant in Guandu Township. Authorities deployed nearly 500 rescuers, including emergency and fire teams, to the scene. Operations involved search and rescue efforts, with robots assisting in locating those trapped inside the facility. Rescuers evacuated residents within a 3-kilometer radius and implemented safety measures, such as humidifying the area, to prevent secondary accidents from two high-risk gunpowder warehouses on site.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause and imposed control measures on the plant's person in charge, according to state media. Fires continued burning into the evening, complicating containment efforts.

The explosion's force shattered windows in nearby residential buildings, deformed aluminum frames and stainless steel doors, and scattered stones onto roads, forcing villagers to take detours. One resident living about 1 kilometer away told Beijing News, "The glass windows in our homes were shattered,...