Gunpowder and collapsed walls hamper Liuyang factory rescue

Overlapping combustion, stocked gunpowder, and blocked passages have caused difficulties in the handling of Monday's deadly explosion at a fireworks factory in Hunan province, according to Ding Weiming, Party secretary and political commissar of Changsha's fire and rescue team, who spoke at a news conference on Tuesday.

According to Ding, firefighting and rescue are extremely difficult in this case as finished and semifinished products have caught fire sporadically, setting off explosions. Gunpowder stored nearby could not be quickly moved, endangering rescue workers. The plant's walls, pillars, and roof had largely collapsed, trapping people and blocking access.

He added that the team had sent 116 firefighting vehicles, 482 personnel, and 15 dogs for the rescue, accompanied by 18 drones, six robots, and one robot dog. Their efforts have saved the lives of seven people pulled from the ruins.

The team plans to use fire trucks and remote-controlled water cannons to safeguard the two gunpowder depots. "We will also strengthen risk assessment, implement safety precautions, and prevent secondary disasters," he said.

The accident, happened at Liuyang, a county-level city under Changsha, the capital of Hunan, has led to 26 deaths and 61 injuries as of Tuesday noon.