Overview

• On June 16 at around 8:30 a.m. local time, a blast at a fireworks factory near Changde in Hunan province left nine dead and 26 injured, state media reported.
• Rescue teams are confronting steep, waterless terrain and the danger of further explosions at the rural site.
• Authorities say all wounded are in stable condition and that most of the factory’s roughly 150 employees were away from the blast zone.
• The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a supervisory team to coordinate rescue efforts and probe the cause of the explosion.
• The incident follows recent deadly industrial mishaps in Gaomi and recalls past disasters in China, fueling concerns over factory safety standards.