3 killed, 22 injured in explosion in China's fireworks factory
Three persons were killed and 22 others injured on Monday in an explosion at a fireworks factory in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local authorities said. The explosion occurred on Monday morning at a factory in the Wumahe District of Yichun City. So far, three bodies have been recovered and 22 others have been hospitalised. The explosion shattered the windows of buildings one kilometer away and damaged iron fences standing 100 meters away. "The shock waves of the explosion was felt up to five km away," official Xinhua news agency reported. The fire has been extinguished after a helicopter dumped water on the blaze above but some fireworks are still exploding. There are usually 40 to 50 people at work in the factory on working days. However, 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.
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