Photo taken on Jan. 11, 2009 shows the explosion scene in Qingtan town of Yingde City, south China's Guangdong Province. Five people were confirmed dead and nine others were injured in a privately-run firework plant explosion in Guangdong Province Sunday morning, the local government said. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie) Photo Gallery>>>

    GUANGZHOU, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Five people were confirmed dead and nine others injured in a firework plant explosion in south China's Guangdong Province Sunday morning, the local government said.

    The explosion was reported at 8:30 a.m. in a privately-run workshop in Qingtan town of Yingde City, a spokesman with the city government said.

    He said four people were killed on the spot and another one died later in hospital.

    Among the dead were four women from Guangdong and a man from the central Hunan Province.

    The cause of the accident is under investigation.

    Chinese businesses have stepped up producing and selling fireworks in the run-up to the Spring Festival, the most important Chinese holiday. This year, the festival falls on Jan. 26.

    Similar accidents have killed at least 24 people in Guangdong, Hunan, Shandong and Hebei provinces since mid-November, according to the State Council Work Safety Commission.

Photo taken on Jan. 11, 2009 shows the explosion scene in Qingtan town of Yingde City, south China's Guangdong Province. Five people were confirmed dead and nine others were injured in a privately-run firework plant explosion in Guangdong Province Sunday morning, the local government said. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie) Photo Gallery>>>