Beijing: The death toll from a powerful explosion at a fireworks manufacturing factory in China has risen to 37, according to updated information from local authorities involved in rescue and investigation efforts. Dozens of others are reported injured, several of them in critical condition, as emergency operations continue at the site.
The blast occurred earlier this week at a privately operated fireworks production facility, triggering multiple secondary explosions that hampered rescue work and caused extensive damage to surrounding structures. Officials said the intensity of the explosion made immediate access to parts of the factory difficult due to ongoing fire hazards and unstable debris.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, medical personnel, and disaster response units, were deployed shortly after the incident. Heavy machinery has been used to clear rubble while search operations continue for possible survivors who may still be trapped under collapsed sections of the building.
Preliminary findings suggest that the explosion may have been triggered by unsafe storage or handling of explosive materials used in fireworks production. However, authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause and have launched a full investigation into safety compliance, licensing, and operational standards at the facility.
Local government officials stated that the factory had been inspected in the past, but it remains unclear whether all safety recommendations were properly implemented. The incident has once again raised concerns about industrial safety standards in facilities handling highly flammable materials.
Hospitals in the nearby region have been placed on high alert to treat the injured, with emergency wards receiving burn victims and patients suffering from blast-related trauma. Some of the injured have been transferred to specialized medical centres for advanced treatment.
Residents living near the factory reported hearing a series of loud explosions followed by thick smoke rising from the site. Many described scenes of panic as windows shattered and debris was scattered across nearby areas.
Authorities have cordoned off the entire zone and restricted public movement while investigation teams collect evidence. Experts from industrial safety departments are expected to join the inquiry to determine whether negligence or regulatory violations contributed to the disaster.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in China’s fireworks industry, which has seen similar accidents in the past due to the hazardous nature of materials involved.
Officials have said that rescue and recovery operations will continue until all missing persons are accounted for, while the final death toll may still change as the situation develops.
