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HONG KONG, May 5 (Reuters) – A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people \u200cand injured 61, prompting President Xi Jinping to call \u200cfor a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The blast in Hunan’s capital city \u200bof Changsha, home to a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday around 4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.<\/p>\n
Videos on Chinese internet platforms showed thick smoke billowing from a large \u200csite with collapsed buildings \u2060and debris strewn around the area. Reuters could not verify the footage.<\/p>\n
Nearly 500 firefighters, rescuers and medical \u2060personnel attended the scene, according to the South China Morning Post.<\/p>\n
The blast happened at Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company, media said. Reuters \u200bcould \u200bnot find a telephone listing for \u200bthe company to seek \u200ccomment.<\/p>\n
Xi called for a speedy investigation to determine the cause of the blast and strict accountability for the incident, Xinhua reported.<\/p>\n
Last year, China exported $1.14 billion worth of fireworks, more than two-thirds of global sales, data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows.<\/p>\n
Xi also ordered \u200cauthorities to strengthen risk screening and \u200bhazard control in key industries, enhance public \u200bsafety and ensure the \u200bsafety of people’s lives and property.<\/p>\n
Xi often issues “important instructions” \u200cto local officials after major \u200baccidents and disasters \u200bwith fatalities. Last week, he urged a nationwide upgrade in China’s disaster response capacity.<\/p>\n
Xi had also issued instructions after a \u200bblaze in Hong Kong \u200cin November at the Wang Fuk Court complex that \u200bkilled 168 people.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Christian \u200bSchmollinger, Himani Sarkar and Neil Fullick)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n