Materials used to make fireworks have been blamed for causing an
explosion that killed six in a village in north China's Hebei
Province last Monday, local police said yesterday.
The blast took place at around 1:30 PM in the house of Liu
Haijun, a resident of Guangedian Village in Lirangdian Township of
Gu'an County, Langfang City.
The six people killed included Liu, his wife and daughter. Six
others were injured, police said. The explosion also destroyed or
damaged dozens of houses.
According to the investigation, Li Zhenhai and his wife, both
fellow villagers of Liu, had stored explosives in Liu's house to
prepare for manufacturing fireworks later.
Gu'an and some neighboring counties have a tradition of
manufacturing fireworks and other accidental explosions have been
reported in the past.
Local police said they would conduct inspections in the county
along with fire control and safety supervision departments to
prevent the illicit manufacture, sale, transport and storage of
dangerous materials.
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2005)