China fireworks factory blast kills 37, toll expected to rise

The death toll from a fireworks factory explosion in China has risen to 37, authorities confirmed on Friday, with the figure expected to climb further as rescue operations continue at the blast site. The scale of casualties makes it one of the deadliest industrial accidents in China's manufacturing sector in recent years.

The explosion, which is believed to have originated in a production or storage section of the facility, triggered a series of secondary blasts that hampered initial emergency response efforts and caused widespread structural damage across the factory compound. Dozens of workers were reported on-site at the time of the incident.

Chinese authorities have launched an investigation into the cause, with preliminary reports suggesting possible safety protocol failures in the handling and storage of explosive pyrotechnic materials. China's fireworks industry, concentrated in several provinces, has a documented history of industrial accidents despite periodic regulatory crackdowns.

Rescue teams are working through the debris to account for all missing workers, while hospitals in the surrounding region have been placed on emergency footing to receive casualties.