Six workers have been confirmed dead in Monday's fireworks plant
explosion in northern Hebei Province after rescuers recovered the
body of the last missing worker on Tuesday.
Another two workers who were injured in the blast have been
discharged from hospital, according to the provincial work safety
administration.
Families of the victims are negotiating with the fireworks plant
on compensation, according to local rescuer headquarters.
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, leaving
six workers missing and two other injured.
Workers were transferring fireworks from one warehouse to
another in the factory when the explosion occurred, according to
the administration.
The factory was legal, but stopped production for regular safety
examination 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 8, 2007)