Society

Death toll in N.China firework blast rises to 4

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-29 21:25

HOHHOT: One more body was retrieved Friday afternoon from debris of a firework factory in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to bring the confirmed death toll of the Wednesday explosion at the workshop to four, according to local government.

Two people were still missing and eight injured remained in hospital after the explosion, said sources with the government of Tumote Left Banner in the regional capital, Hohhot.

The accident happened at around 9:58 am at the Chunhua Firework Factory in Zhaohao village of Shandai town of the Banner, when 25 were working at the scene.

Eleven escaped without injures, said the banner government and regional public security bureau. The eight injured, including one in critical condition, have been sent to local hospital.

The fire was put out at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Rescuers continued to search for the two missing, and cause of the accident is being investigated.

Local police have taken the owner of the workshop into custody.

Baoyibatu, head of the regional work safety administration, said the Chunhua Firework Factory was an unlicensed workshop.

Tumote Left Banner, with more than 200 years of history in fireworks production, will shut down all firework plants following the explosion, the local government said.