Society

Fireworks factory explosion kills at least 3

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-16 16:51

HARBIN - An explosion at a fireworks factory killed at least three people and injured 22 others in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province Monday, local authorities said.

The explosion occurred at 9:45 am in a factory in the Wumahe district of Yichun city.

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As of 3 pm, three bodies had been recovered and 22 others had been hospitalized.

The explosion shattered the windows of buildings one kilometer away and damaged iron fences standing 100 meters away.

The shockwave of the explosion was felt up to five kilometers away.

The fire has been extinguished after a helicopter dumped water on the blaze from above but some fireworks are still exploding.

Thick smoke blankets the scene.

There are usually 40 to 50 people at work in the factory on workdays. The exact number of workers who were in the factory when the explosion occurred is unknown.

More than 550 fire fighters and soldiers in 20 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene.

Some 300 rescuers are on their way to the scene to search for survivors.

"Fire trucks are hosing water onto nearby storehouses to prevent another explosion," said Xu Zhaojun, Party chief of Yinchun city.

More than 2,000 residents were evacuated after the initial explosion.

No other information was immediately available.