An explosion occurred at a fireworks store in Hubei province, China, claiming the lives of 12 individuals, as per reports from state media. This incident marks the second explosion during the Lunar New Year festivities in the country. Emergency teams successfully extinguished the fire at the fireworks shop situated in Xiangyang town on Wednesday afternoon, as confirmed by the official Xinhua News Agency. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation, with no specific details provided in the report.
Fireworks play a significant role in the Lunar New Year celebrations in China; however, their usage has been associated with several accidents. Over the weekend, another tragic incident took place at a fireworks shop in Jiangsu province, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and injuring two others. Local authorities indicated that a resident had ignited fireworks near the shop, leading to the unfortunate event.
The Chinese central government issued a warning on Tuesday highlighting the risks associated with fireworks during the Spring Festival period. The Ministry of Emergency Management emphasized that fireworks remain a major safety concern during this festive season.