An explosion at a fireworks retail store in Zhengji Town, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, central China, killed 12 people on Wednesday afternoon. The blast affected an area of about 50 square meters, and emergency responders extinguished open flames by 3:30 p.m.
On Wednesday afternoon around 2 p.m., an explosion occurred at a fireworks retail store in Zhengji Town, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, central China, killing 12 people. Local authorities stated that the blast and subsequent fire affected an area of about 50 square meters. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene, and open flames were extinguished by 3:30 p.m. Twelve bodies were found at the site, and the cause of the explosion is under further investigation.
The incident took place during the Lunar New Year period, when fireworks and firecrackers are traditionally set off across China to welcome prosperity, good luck, and ward off evil spirits. According to the South China Morning Post, this was the second deadly fireworks explosion in recent days, following a similar incident in neighboring Jiangsu Province that killed eight people. Authorities attributed the Jiangsu blast to improper handling of fireworks and detained several individuals as investigations continue. The government has called for measures to prevent repetitions of such accidents.
