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| Firemen and rescuers work on the debris after an explosion at a fireworks factory in Yichun City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug, 16, 2010. (Xinhua Photo) |
HARBIN, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Monday's explosion at a fireworks factory in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has climbed to 20, with four still missing and another 153 injured, local authorities said Tuesday.
The explosion occurred at 9:45 Monday morning at the factory in the Wumahe District of Yichun City.
It killed nine of the factory's 51 workers and injured 35, while four are still unaccounted for. Eight other people were killed and 35 injured when the explosion hit the neighboring Taiye Wood Factory.
The blast also killed two pedestrians and injured 83 residents near the factory. Altogether, 14 people were seriously injured, and one of them has been transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital Harbin City.
The ensuing fire was largely brought under control Monday after a helicopter dumped water on the blaze.
As of 2 a.m. Tuesday, the fire had been largely extinguished but smoke still surrounds the area and 23 small fires continue burning within a 309-meter radius of the factory.
The situation is viewed as severe and new accidents might occur, as there are three timber mills near the fireworks factory, a local government official said.
Fire trucks Monday hosed water onto other warehouses at the fireworks factory to prevent more explosions. But some think that could be risky.
"It might be dangerous to hose water at the scene as some explosives might detonate when hit by water," said Sun Huashan, the deputy
director of the State Administration of Work Safety who arrived in Yichun late Monday to lead the rescue work.
Sun urged other methods be used to prevent further explosions and fires. Traffic near the scene has been restricted since Monday. No one apartHfrom rescuers and firefighters have been allowed near the scene since early Tuesday.
The fire spread to a chopstick factory Monday but it was brought under control.
More than 2,000 residents were evacuated after the explosion shattered windows within a one kilometer radius of the factory.
Iron fences 100 meters from the factory were also damaged in the blast. Witnesses said the shockwave from the explosion was felt up to five kilometers away.
More than 1,700 firefighters and other personnel, along with 62 fire trucks, were dispatched to fight the blaze and search for survivors Monday. Also, forty medical staff arrived in Yichun at around 10 p.m. Monday to help treat the injured.
The cause of the accident is under investigation. Preliminary investigations show the plant was engaged in illegal fireworks production, as its production permit was confiscated in June by the local work safety department, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the State Administration of Work Safety.
The plant was requested in June to suspend production and improve its safety work, said the statement.
The Heilongjiang provincial work safety bureau said Tuesday they have ordered an immediate inspection of all businesses producing and wholesaling fireworks and trading and using dangerous chemicals.
Any factories failing to meet safety standards will be suspended from operating until improvements are made or face closure.
Production at six fireworks plants in the province has already been halted, said an official from the Heilongjiang provincial work safety bureau.
