Causes of Firework Plant Blast in North China Pinpointed

Home>>Life

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 22, 2003

Causes of Firework Plant Blast in North China Pinpointed

Workers drying out gunpowder in violation of production safety rules caused the blast in a firework plant in north China's Hebei province on July 28, provincial police said Thursday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Workers drying out gunpowder in violation of production safety rules caused the blast in a firework plant in north China's Hebei province on July 28, provincial police said Thursday.

The blast occurred at 6:08 p.m. when the gunpowder being dried out under the sun self-ignited, killing 35 people, injuring 103 others and destroying the main workshops of the Guoxi Firework Plant in Wangkou town of Xinji city in the south of the province.

A joint investigation team consisting of officials from the State Administration of Work Safety, the Ministry of Public Security and Hebei Province was established soon after the explosion.

Experts of the team cited as indirect reasons the production offireworks in non-production areas, the stockpiling of the finishedand semi-finished fireworks outside the warehouse without any protective measures, and the lack of skills and awareness of production safety of the plant owner and workers.

Covering 6.6 hectares, the plant was licensed by local police in December 2000 to produce fireworks.

Police have detained five people for their roles in the explosion, including three deputy heads and two security supervision workers at the plant.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Fireworks Factory Blast Caused by Spontaneous Gunpowder Ignition

Fireworks Factory Blast Kills 29 in China's Hebei

US Conducts Land-based Missile Test ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Personages Appeal to Japan to Face up to History ( 2 Messages)

Disgraced Official Highlights Chinks in System ( 3 Messages)

Beijing's Economy Forecast to Grow 9-10 Percent in 2003 ( 2 Messages)

China Puts New Anti-AIDS Drug in Clinical Use ( 2 Messages)