Blast at fireworks factory in China’s Hunan kills 26; Xi calls for probe: State media

HONG KONG – A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed at least 26 people and injured 61, flattening buildings and sending towering clouds of smoke into the sky, and prompting President Xi Jinping to order a thorough investigation, state media reported on May 5.

More than 1,500 firefighters, rescuers, medical personnel and police were deployed, together with drones and three robots, to search for survivors and control on-site hazards after the explosion on May 4 at a factory compound in Liu­yang, the city in central Hunan province known as China’s fireworks capital.

The authorities evacuated surrounding areas because of the risk from highly combustible black powder stored in two warehouses in the complex, Xinhua reported.

The explosion happened around 4.40pm local time, according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.

Social media footage showed massive plumes of smoke billowing into clear blue skies, against a backdrop of lush, green mountains. Reuters verified the location in the footage – which was posted on social media on May 4 – as Changsha, the Hunan provincial capital which is responsible for the administration of Liuyang.

A Hunan Satellite TV reporter at the scene said the area had been razed to the ground, with trees uprooted by shock waves from the blasts, and there was a strong smell of gunpowder in the air.

A Xinhua video showed thick clouds of smoke rising from a large site littered with collapsed buildings and debris.

China is no stranger to fireworks and industrial accidents. In June 2025, an explosion at a fireworks factory, also in Hunan province, killed nine people and injured 26.

Weeks before, an explosion at a chemical plant in north-eastern China killed at least five people, highlighting the risks associated with storing hazardous and flammable materials in factories or ware­houses.

Changsha government feels ‘extremely guilty’

Changsha government officials told a press conference on May 5 that on-site searches had been large­ly completed.

The person in charge of the Huasheng fireworks factory had been detained and the cause of the accident was being investigated, the government said, adding that all fireworks and firecracker manufacturing companies in the city had been ordered to suspend production from the evening of May 4 for inspections.

“The (Changsha) government expresses its condolences to all the victims, and sincerely apologises to all the families of the victims, the injured and other affected people, and the whole society,” said Mr Chen Bozhang, deputy secretary of the Changsha Municipal Party Committee and the city’s mayor.

“We feel extremely sad and extremely guilty.”

Reuters could not find a telephone listing for Huasheng to seek comment.

The government said it would also carry out large-scale safety inspections across all sectors to close any regulatory loopholes.

China’s State Council set up an accident investigation team, CCTV reported in the evening, while Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing led staff to Liu­yang on May 5 to guide the emergency rescue and response work.

Mr Xi called for a speedy investigation to determine the cause of the blast and for strict accountability, Xinhua reported.

In 2025, China exported US$1.14 billion (S$1.45 billion) worth of fireworks, more than two-thirds of global sales, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

According to a 2025 Xinhua report, Liuyang’s fireworks industry was worth 50 billion yuan (S$9.34 billion), with 431 companies producing fireworks and firecrackers.

The city’s fireworks production accounted for 60 per cent of China’s domestic market and 70 per cent of China’s fireworks exports.

Mr Xi also ordered the authorities to strengthen risk screening and hazard control in key industries, enhance public safety, and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

The Chinese leader often issues “important instructions” to local officials after major accidents and disasters with fatalities. Last week, he urged a nationwide upgrade in China’s disaster response capacity.

Mr Xi had also issued instructions after a blaze in Hong Kong in November at the Wang Fuk Court complex that killed 168 people. REUTERS