The death toll from a fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang, Hunan Province, rose to 37, with one person still missing and 51 injured, state news agency Xinhua reported on May 8, 2026. The explosion occurred on May 4 at approximately 4:40 pm local time.
Liuyang, known as China’s “fireworks capital,” produces about 60% of the country’s domestic fireworks and 70% of exports. “According to the report, on-site research and rescue operations have now been completed.”
Authorities have launched a criminal and safety investigation under the supervision of China’s top prosecutors. Local police have summoned eight individuals for questioning on suspicion of causing the explosion. Hunan provincial officials ordered an immediate suspension of all fireworks plants in Liuyang for safety inspections.
The incident follows a smaller June 2025 explosion in the same province that killed nine people. It is the deadliest industrial accident in China since a 2019 chemical plant blast in Jiangsu Province that claimed 78 lives. “Due to ongoing safety violations and the mishandling of explosive chemicals, the fireworks industry continues to face significant risks.”
The indefinite suspension of Liuyang factories may disrupt global fireworks supply ahead of summer celebrations, highlighting the broader economic impact of industrial accidents in the region.
