Nian Xiaodong, a 30-year-old employee at the fireworks factory whose left eye was injured in the accident, said she was packing inventory at the plant with eight other colleagues when the explosion occurred.

"I heard a deafening sound and then the building started to collapse. I could hardly see anything and the exit was blocked. The falling debris hit my eye. But we all managed to escape," said Nian, who was admitted to Yichun Forestry Center Hospital for treatment.

Nian was found trembling by the ruins of a wall when her boyfriend went to look for her.

Li Jilai, 42, another worker at the factory, sustained a head injury in the explosion.

Li, who comes from Pingxiang city, eastern Jiangxi province, said he had brought 25 people from his hometown to work at the factory. Two of them were killed in the explosion, two others were badly injured and one is missing, he said.

"I dare not go back to my hometown. How could I face their relatives?" he sobbed.

Traffic has been restricted since Monday near the site of the explosion, where only rescue workers and firefighters were allowed access on Tuesday.

More than 2,000 residents were evacuated after the blast.

The explosion shattered the windows in almost all buildings within a kilometer of the site, while shockwaves from the explosion were reported up to five kilometers away.

More than 1,700 firefighters and soldiers were dispatched in 62 fire trucks to fight the blaze and search for survivors.