At least 12 people have died following an explosion and fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China. Emergency services responded to the blaze in Xiangyang, Hubei province, on Wednesday afternoon. The fire engulfed a 50-square-meter area of the premises.
This incident follows a similar explosion on Sunday in Jiangsu province, which killed eight people. A blast at a fireworks factory in Hunan province in June killed nine others and injured 26. Pyrotechnics are traditionally used during celebrations like the Lunar New Year but have been banned in some Chinese cities due to safety and air pollution concerns. The Ministry of Emergency Management had recently warned that fireworks pose significant risks during the Spring Festival. Investigators are examining the cause of the Xiangyang explosion.