Accident in the interior of the country left more than 60 people injured; Xi Jinping called for reinforcement in the search for survivors
An explosion in a fireworks factory warehouse in China’s Hunan province left 26 dead and more than 60 injured. The accident was recorded at 4:40 pm Beijing time on Monday (May 4, 2026). In China, it is a public holiday from May 1st to 5th, but there is no information so far whether people were working at the site during the explosion.
According to Chinese media, 2 gunpowder deposits are still at risk and residents near the Huasheng Fireworks factory have been evacuated. The cause of the accident is being investigated by Chinese authorities.
This Tuesday (May 5), the President of China (Communist Party of China) called for full efforts to search for the missing and help the victims of the explosion. The Chinese leader demanded an immediate investigation into what happened and emphasized that those responsible will be held accountable.
“Authorities in all regions and departments must draw important lessons from the accident and reinforce responsibility for workplace safety”declared the president.
The state news agency Xinhua reported that rescue teams are using robots to assist in search operations for survivors and removal of debris. The explosion caused a tall, dense column of white smoke that could be seen from hundreds of meters away.
Watch a video of the explosion site (18s):
Video: Blast hits central China fireworks plant
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial)
