Three persons was killed and over 50 others sustained injuries after multiple blasts rocked a fireworks plant in east China's Jiangxi Province early today, local authorities said.
The first blast ripped through a workshop of Hongsheng fireworks factory in Kunshan village, Guangfeng district, Shangrao city at around 0:30 am, said the city's emergency management office.
Several blasts followed.
Three persons were killed while one was listed missing, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Rescuers have managed to pull out 21 people who were trapped in the dormitory area of the plant and sent them to hospital.
More than 1,000 people nearby were evacuated to safe areas after the blasts that injured as many as 53 people.
Shock waves damaged some villagers' homes followed by sporadic minor blasts at the scene.
The plant and all other 31 fireworks in Yangkou Township of Guangfeng have production permits. The executives of the plant were held by police for investigation, the report said.
The Guangfeng area boasts of a history of more than 300 years in fireworks production.
The local rescue headquarters will work out a plan to help those whose homes were damaged sustain the upcoming freezing cold weather.
Jiangxi is forecast to embrace the coldest weather since 1992 between January 23 and 26, with temperatures in mountainous areas plunging to minus 13 to 11 degrees Celsius.
In an explosion a week ago at an illegal fireworks plant, at least 10 people were killed in central China's Henan Province.
