Johannesburg – An explosion at an explosives factory in the Chinese province of Hunan killed 21 people and injured 61, leading President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
The explosion in Liuyang, under the control of Hunan’s capital Changsha and an explosives manufacturing plant, occurred on Monday at around 4:40 pm (0840 GMT), according to CCTV and Xinhua reports.
Pictures on social media showed plumes of smoke rising into the blue sky behind the green, blue mountains. Reuters confirmed the location shown in the video, which was posted on social media on May 4, as Changsha.
Xinhua video showed thick clouds of smoke rising from a large area filled with collapsed buildings and debris.
Five teams of nearly 500 rescuers, as well as three rescue robots, were dispatched to the scene, using a “human-machine integrated approach” to conduct a grid search, according to Xinhua.
The two storage areas of black powders in the factory area posed a serious threat, the report said, adding that the authorities evacuated residents from the dangerous areas, creating a 1 km evacuation zone and a 3 km control zone.
The explosion occurred at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, state media said.
Reuters could not get a list of calls to the company seeking comment.
The owner of the company has been arrested and the cause of the accident is being investigated, the state-run China Daily reported.
Xi called for an immediate investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and strict accountability for the incident, Xinhua reported.
Last year, China exported fireworks worth $1.14 billion, more than two-thirds of global sales, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity showed.
Xi also ordered authorities to strengthen risk assessment and risk management in key industries, improve public safety and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
Xi often gives “important instructions” to local officials after major accidents and disasters and deaths. Last week, he called for the development of China’s national disaster response system.
Xi also issued the directive after a fire broke out at several residential towers in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court complex in November that killed 168 people.
