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Death toll rises to 37 in China fireworks factory blast

By Thomson Reuters May 7, 2026 | 11:22 PM

BEIJING, May 8 (Reuters) – The death toll has risen ​to 37 from ‌26 after a fireworks factory explosion in the southern Chinese ‌province ​of ⁠Hunan, state agency ⁠Xinhua reported Friday, adding that one person remains missing.

The ​explosion happened at around 4:40 ⁠p.m. (0840 GMT) ⁠on Monday in ​Hunan’s Liuyang, known ​as China’s fireworks capital ‌for its 60% share of the domestic market ⁠and about 70% of exports.

Xinhua said on-site research ⁠and ‌rescue work has ⁠completed for ​now ‌and 51 people ​are being ⁠treated at hospitals.

(Reporting by Liz Lee and Shi Bu; Editing by Kim ​Coghill)