Blast at Fireworks Factory in China's Hunan Kills 21, President Xi Calls for Investigation
An explosion at a fireworks factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, results in multiple fatalities and injuries, prompting a call from Chinese President Xi Jinping for an immediate investigation.
May 05, 2026: An explosion at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has led to the deaths of 21 people and injured 61 others.
The incident took place on Monday around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) in Liuyang, which is under the administration of Changsha, the provincial capital and a major center for fireworks production.
Reports from CCTV and Xinhua news agencies detail the event.
Social media footage captured significant plumes of smoke rising against a backdrop of green mountains, with Reuters verifying that the location depicted was indeed in Changsha on May 4th.
The Xinhua report also showed thick smoke and debris at the site of the explosion, which occurred at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company.
In response to the disaster, five rescue teams comprising nearly 500 personnel along with three rescue robots were deployed using a coordinated grid search approach.
Authorities have evacuated those in danger zones and established security measures including a 1 km rescue area and a 3 km restricted zone due to the presence of high-risk black powder storage warehouses at the factory.
President Xi Jinping has called for an expedited investigation into the cause of the blast, emphasizing accountability for this incident.
He also directed that risk assessments and safety measures be enhanced in key industries to protect public safety and property rights.
This type of directive is not unusual from President Xi following major accidents, as he seeks to improve disaster management nationwide.
This explosion highlights the hazardous nature of fireworks manufacturing, especially considering China's significant export of fireworks—over $1.14 billion worth last year, comprising more than two-thirds of global fireworks trade according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
The incident took place on Monday around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT) in Liuyang, which is under the administration of Changsha, the provincial capital and a major center for fireworks production.
Reports from CCTV and Xinhua news agencies detail the event.
Social media footage captured significant plumes of smoke rising against a backdrop of green mountains, with Reuters verifying that the location depicted was indeed in Changsha on May 4th.
The Xinhua report also showed thick smoke and debris at the site of the explosion, which occurred at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company.
In response to the disaster, five rescue teams comprising nearly 500 personnel along with three rescue robots were deployed using a coordinated grid search approach.
Authorities have evacuated those in danger zones and established security measures including a 1 km rescue area and a 3 km restricted zone due to the presence of high-risk black powder storage warehouses at the factory.
President Xi Jinping has called for an expedited investigation into the cause of the blast, emphasizing accountability for this incident.
He also directed that risk assessments and safety measures be enhanced in key industries to protect public safety and property rights.
This type of directive is not unusual from President Xi following major accidents, as he seeks to improve disaster management nationwide.
This explosion highlights the hazardous nature of fireworks manufacturing, especially considering China's significant export of fireworks—over $1.14 billion worth last year, comprising more than two-thirds of global fireworks trade according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
