(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-04 16:43

The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks factory in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has risen to five, according to the local government.

One of the two seriously injured people who had suffered 80 percent burns died in hospital on Monday.

Another 10 are still suffering from burns but they are all in a stable condition, doctors said.

Each family of the victims is expected to receive 180,000 yuan (US$23,800) in compensation from the government.

The blast ripped through the privately-owned Baoxing Fireworks Factory in Aohan banner of Chifeng city in the eastern part of the autonomous region at 7:50 am on August 28.

Initial investigations have attributed the blame to worker Teng Jicun, who was badly injured, for triggering the fire with a welding device which was forbidden from being used in the workshop.

Shareholder Zheng Guangyi and Ren Yuexin, who was in charge of legal matters, have been detained. Police are hunting for another shareholder Zheng Guolian and the factory's bank accounts have been frozen.