Nine people were killed and 26 others injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in central China, state media reported Tuesday, as rescue efforts continued at the disaster site a day after the incident.
The explosion occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. Monday at a factory in a village near Changde City in Hunan Province, China National Radio reported.
As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, the death toll had reached nine dead and 26 injured, according to the radio, citing an operations command center.
The radio confirmed that rescue efforts were continuing at the site, noting the "complicated" situation and the risk of further explosions, which could hinder response efforts.
The radio added that the factory's location in a "mountainous area without a significant water source" is making the situation even more difficult.
The report indicated that "during the rescue operations, which lasted for more than 20 hours, the rescue team used remote-controlled water hoses to extinguish the fire."
The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a working team to Hunan to oversee the rescue efforts, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The agency quoted the ministry as saying that "efforts must be made to determine the cause of the explosion as soon as possible and hold those responsible accountable."
Industrial accidents are common in China due to vague laws and weak safety standards.
Last month, at least five people were killed at a chemical plant in the eastern province of Shandong.
In 2015, explosions in warehouses containing flammable chemicals in the coastal city of Tianjin killed more than 170 people and injured 700 others.
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