A massive explosion at a fireworks factory in central China killed 26 people and injured 61 others on Monday afternoon. The blast occurred around 4:40 p.m. local time at the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Guandu township, Liuyang city, Hunan province.

The detonation sent shockwaves through the area, flattening buildings at the facility, shattering windows, and deforming metal frames up to a kilometer away. Plumes of black smoke rose high into the sky, and authorities evacuated residents within a 3-kilometer radius to prevent further risks from two nearby gunpowder warehouses. The injured, ranging in age from their 20s to 60s, suffered fractures and other wounds from flying debris.

Rescue operations involved more than 1,500 emergency responders equipped with dogs, drones, and robots, who pulled seven people from rubble. All 61 injured individuals received hospital treatment, and efforts concluded after rescuers humidified the gunpowder storage areas to avert secondary blasts.

President Xi Jinping directed authorities to conduct a thorough probe, rescue the injured, locate any missing persons, and hold those responsible accountable. He also called for better risk controls in high-hazard industries and broader public safety measures. Police imposed control measures on the company's leadership, including detaining the person in charge. Liuyang's fireworks manufacturers halted production for safety inspections, with citywide checks ordered across sectors.

Liuyang, administered under the nearby provincial capital of Changsha, dominates China's fireworks industry, producing about 70 percent of exports and 60 percent for domestic use. Such accidents remain a concern in the sector; a 2019 explosion at another Liuyang factory killed 13, and a fireworks store blast in Hubei province this February claimed 12 lives.

Resident Liu, living about 1 kilometer from the site, described the chaos to Beijing News: windows shattered, aluminum frames bent, and stainless steel doors twisted. She and others fled the village out of fear. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.