At least 19 die, 5 missing, 153 injured in fireworks factory blast in China

12:20, 17 August 2010

BEIJING. August 17. KAZINFORM At least 19 people died, five are missing and another 153 were injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in northeast China, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua said Tuesday. Kazinfrom refers to RIA Novosti.

The blast occurred on Monday morning at the factory in the Wumahe District of Yichun City in the Heilongjiang province.

Shockwaves from the blast were felt five kilometers away from the factory. The blaze has been practically extinguished but the situation remains dangerous as new explosions may occur due to three timber mills near the fireworks factory, Xinhua said citing a local government official.

At least 20 injured people were sent to a hospital, the China Daily said.

Over 2,000 people were evacuated; hundreds of firefighters were extinguishing the fire caused by the explosion.

Russian Far East ecologists found no air pollution from the blast in the Russian regions bordering the Chinese province. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.

News World News