China fireworks deaths blamed on child
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-02-02 19:14

Investigators have concluded that a fireworks explosion that killed 36 people in central China was caused by a child who threw a burning firecracker into a warehouse packed with explosives, the government said.

The scene of the fireworks blast is seen in Central China's Henan Province on January 31, 2006.[Xinhua]

Most of those killed in the blast Sunday in the city of Linzhou were at a temple near the fireworks warehouse celebrating the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Investigators announced Wednesday that the blast was caused by children playing with firecrackers, the Xinhua News Agency said.

"One of the kids threw a burning firecracker into the storehouse through the ventilation hole, directly detonating the firecrackers and fireworks stored inside," the agency said.

Such explosions are reported frequently in China, often around the Lunar New Year, when Chinese celebrate by setting off billions of firecrackers.

Xinhua reported earlier that the storehouse had been ordered closed because it was operating illegally.