Rescuers have recovered the bodies of five workers and one
worker is still missing after a fireworks plant explosion in north
China, local work safety authorities said on Tuesday.
The explosion happened at 5:10 PM on Monday in a warehouse
belonging to a fireworks factory affiliated to the Supply and
Marketing Cooperative of Zaoqiang County in Hebei Province.
Workers were transferring fireworks from one warehouse to
another in the factory when the explosion occurred, according to
the Hebei Provincial Work Safety Administration.
Two others were slightly injured. The factory was legal, but
stopped production last Friday.
According to the State Administration of Work Safety, China has
an average of 406 fireworks accidents every year with 445
deaths.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)