Major Explosion at Hunan Liuyang Fireworks Factory Leaves 21 Dead and 61 Injured

(Image Source: Screenshot from Netizen Video)

[People News] An explosion occurred at the "Hua Sheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co., Ltd." in Liuyang City, Changsha, Hunan, around 4:40 PM on Monday, resulting in significant casualties. As of now, the incident has led to at least 21 deaths and 61 injuries.

Videos circulating online show thick smoke rising into the air from a distance following the explosion at the fireworks factory.

Residents interviewed by The Dajiyuan near the factory reported that Liuyang is known as the capital of fireworks, housing many fireworks and firecracker manufacturers. This particular factory specialises in producing export fireworks. "The area has been sealed off for several kilometres, and we can't get in. We were just about to get closer to take a look, but the fire department and police have cordoned off the area, preventing anyone from entering."

"The hospital next to us is filled with injured individuals. Some of them ran out of the accident site. Just now, we encountered a survivor with a head wrapped in gauze while we were having a late-night snack. There are many women working in this factory; in one workshop, there were twenty people, but only two managed to escape. A total of three workshops and the office building exploded, and the owner was killed."

"The fireworks factory where the incident occurred is right near our home. We dare not speculate on the casualties, but rescue operations are still ongoing. Ambulances have been continuously coming and going, and there are still many family members who are unaccounted for. It is unclear how many people were in the factory; it was during normal working hours when the explosion happened, and they did not have a holiday (referring to the May Day holiday)."

"There were two explosions in total; the first was a loud bang, followed by a second explosion about ten minutes later, with three consecutive loud bangs."

The resident also stated, "The explosion occurred solely within the factory premises, and while nearby residential buildings sustained damage, there is no need for evacuation. Rescue efforts are still underway, and the number of casualties is expected to rise, as many individuals are still unaccounted for and may be trapped under the collapsed structures. We locals are hesitant to estimate the extent of the casualties; the explosion in the workshop was caused 99.9% by improper operations, and fireworks do not self-detonate."

Public records indicate that Liuyang City Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Firing Co., Ltd. was founded in 2000 and has been a well-established fireworks production company in the region. However, it was only in February of this year that the company faced penalties from regulatory authorities for violations related to safety production.

As reported by the Chinese media outlet NetEase News, on January 16, 2026, an inspection by the emergency office in Gongdu Town, Liuyang City, revealed that the company's workers were violating safety regulations by improperly storing industrial potassium perchlorate, an oxidiser, alongside phthalate, a reducing agent, in a high-risk weighing area. The careless mixing of these two chemically incompatible materials directly contravened the fundamental safety operation guidelines for fireworks production, significantly heightening the safety risks in the production zone. Consequently, the company was fined 15,000 yuan for its illegal safety practices.

Despite receiving an administrative penalty decision, the company has failed to genuinely address the issues or thoroughly rectify the safety vulnerabilities. It continues to operate with underlying risks, which ultimately led to potential hazards materialising into actual accidents. Even more concerning is that in March of this year, Liuyang City convened a special safety warning conference for the fireworks and firecrackers industry, emphasising the need for comprehensive inspections of safety hazards and reinforcing corporate responsibility for safety production. However, just over a month later, similar accidents occurred, prompting public scepticism regarding the effectiveness of the special rectification efforts in the industry and raising concerns that regulatory authorities may be merely imposing penalties without ensuring ongoing oversight. △