Liuyang: A fireworks factory explosion in Hunan province, China, has resulted in the deaths of 21 people and left more than 60 injured. The tragedy unfolded at the Huasheng Fireworks factory in Liuyang City, where the powerful explosion occurred at approximately 4:40 PM local time.

According to Thai News Agency, local media have reported that the explosion sent thick smoke billowing into the sky, which was visible from a distance, and caused significant damage to the factory building and its surroundings. The death toll has now reached 21, with 61 others suffering injuries from the blast.

Over 500 firefighters and rescue workers, alongside three rescue robots, have been mobilized to the site to search for survivors who may be trapped under the debris. An evacuation order has been issued for a 3-kilometer radius due to concerns about two additional gunpowder storage warehouses in the factory area, which could potentially lead to further explosions. Authorities in Liuyang have detained individuals responsible for the factory and are conducting an urgent investigation into the cause of the explosion. Production at an adjacent fireworks factory has also been halted temporarily for a comprehensive safety inspection.

President Xi Jinping has called for a full-scale operation to assist those injured and to search for the missing, stressing the importance of stringent industrial safety inspections across the nation.

Liuyang is renowned as the fireworks capital of the world, being the largest production and export center for fireworks in China, accounting for more than 80 percent of the country's production. Despite government efforts to enhance safety standards in the industry, the high-risk nature of the production process means explosions at fireworks factories still occur occasionally, particularly during peak demand periods.