Explosion at fireworks factory kills 26, injures 61

A tragic incident at a fireworks facility in China has resulted in at least 26 fatalities and 61 injured.

On Tuesday (May 5), China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported that a blast occurred at the Huasheng fireworks facility in the central part of Liuyang city at approximately 4:43pm local time on Monday (May 4).

“The rescue operation is nearly complete, and air and water quality indices from live monitoring are within normal limits,” the statement elaborated.

In a subsequent briefing, the news outlet stated that roughly 500 rescuers divided into five squads were deployed to address the situation, happening approximately 1,000 miles from Beijing, China's capital.

Rescue operations also incorporated robots, drones, and canines, as added by the BBC.

Along with evacuations, rescue teams also moistened the area to "avert secondary incidents during the rescue," according to the BBC.

The age bracket of those hurt extends from their 20s to their 60s, and injuries involved fractures from debris strikes, the BBC cited the state TV network CCTV as reporting.

Nearby residential buildings experienced shattered windows due to the explosion, the source indicated, with white smoke still visible on Tuesday, NBC News stated, referencing CCTV.

Structures in the locale remained destroyed and had caved in late on Monday, May 5, as further noted by NBC. Local officials have detained the company owner, NBC reported, citing the Xinhua news service.

On Tuesday (May 5), President Xi Jinping called for maximum efforts to "locate missing individuals and aid those injured," via an X page established by the Chinese Communist Party.

"Authorities across various regions and sectors must derive substantial lessons from this calamity and bolster accountability in workplace safety," the message further remarked.