Related: Firecracker storehouse blast kills 36 in Henan

    ZHENGZHOU, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A village kid who threw a burning firecracker into the house triggered the devastating explosion at a firecracker storehouse in central China's Henan Province, which killed 36 people and injured 48 others on Sunday, initial investigation has found.

    The explosion occurred between 4 and 5 p.m. Sunday in Linqi Town of Linzhou City. Many of the victims were people attending a temple fair nearby, a traditional commercial and entertainment gathering during the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.

    Investigators announced on Wednesday that they had found the blast was caused by three village kids playing firecrackers at the gate of the storehouse. One of the kids threw a burning firecracker into the storehouse through the ventilation hole, directly detonating the firecrackers and fireworks stored inside.

    However, the investigators said that inadequate management of the storehouse, which belongs to Lilin Firecrackers Co. Ltd., is also an important cause of the deadly blast.

    Criminal investigation into the case has been launched, said the local authorities.

    According to local hospital sources, eight of the injured people are in serious conditions. Enditem