China Fireworks Plant Blast Kills 26, Wounds 61

(MENAFN) A catastrophic explosion at a fireworks manufacturing facility in central China has killed 26 people and left 61 others wounded, authorities revealed Tuesday at a formal press conference — as the city's mayor issued a rare public apology to grieving families and a shaken nation.

The blast tore through the plant of Huasheng fireworks manufacturing and display company at approximately 4:43 p.m. Monday in Liuyang, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan Province.

Changsha Mayor Chen Bozhang opened proceedings by offering condolences to the victims before delivering an unusually candid expression of institutional remorse.

"We are deeply grieved and filled with remorse," he said.

Attendees observed a moment of silence for the victims before the press conference formally commenced.

Rescue operations are now largely complete, authorities confirmed, with real-time environmental monitoring of both air and water quality returning normal readings in the aftermath of the blast — offering some relief amid an otherwise devastating toll.

The individual responsible for overseeing the company has been taken into police custody, and a formal investigation into the cause of the explosion is actively underway. In an immediate industry-wide response, all fireworks production enterprises across Liuyang have been ordered to suspend operations and undergo comprehensive rectification, according to statements made at the press conference.

The disaster has struck at the heart of China's fireworks industry. Liuyang holds a storied reputation as the country's foremost fireworks manufacturing hub — making Monday's explosion not only a local tragedy but a significant blow to a sector deeply embedded in Chinese cultural and industrial heritage.

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