On the morning of June 16, an explosion occurred at the Shanzhou Fireworks Factory in Linli County, Changde, Hunan Province. Official reports state that the accident has resulted in 9 injuries and 2 people missing, but according to the New Beijing News, more than 20 injured individuals have been taken to hospitals for treatment.
Residents living several kilometers away from the scene described the moment of the explosion. One resident said, “At 8:23 in the morning, I was lying on the sofa playing a game when I heard a loud noise and felt a strong vibration. I thought it was an earthquake and ran outside barefoot.”
The resident mentioned that his own house was unaffected as they had opened all doors and windows early that morning, but their neighbor’s windows that were shut shattered due to the impact.
According to another resident, their aunt was working at the factory folding paper boxes that day, which was considered a safer task. However, their neighbor was injured on the head and had to be taken to the hospital. Fortunately, two of the bosses had given their workers days off, so not all employees were at the factory during the explosion.
A female employee from the fireworks factory recounted to the news that she was near the explosion site and felt the vibrations. She immediately ran outside upon hearing the blast, avoiding flying debris by hiding in a shallow ditch. She described how during the second explosion, she was hit in the head by flying rocks. After making her way out of the factory, she contacted her family to take her to the hospital. In the hospital ward, she met three other injured individuals, all suffering from injuries caused by metal and other materials ejected during the explosion.
Her residence was close to the factory, and she mentioned that the explosion had damaged the windows and glass at her home.
The local authorities reported that the explosion in Linli County has left 2 people missing and 9 injured, according to the propaganda department of the Linli County Committee in Hunan Province.
However, the staff at Linli County People’s Hospital stated that over 20 injured individuals were admitted for treatment. Several other medical facilities in the area also received and treated the wounded, with one person currently receiving intensive care at Linli County Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
Information from the official WeChat account of the Fireworks Industry Service Center in Linli County revealed that the company occupies approximately 600 mu of land, with 233 workshop buildings and around 350 employees. The company specializes in the safe production of combination fireworks, spinning fireworks, flowerpot fireworks, and toy products, with an annual output value of about 160 million yuan.
Reportedly, the company has faced several administrative penalties in the past.
On May 28, 2025, the company was fined 15,000 yuan for altering the use of its workshops. On December 19, 2024, it was fined 5,000 yuan for not having outdoor fire hydrants and inadequate fire extinguisher placement. In January 2024, a 48,000 yuan fine was imposed for exceeding the number of personnel in the workshop and engaging in operations beyond the approved scope.
Moreover, the company has been involved in 23 legal disputes, with 50% as defendants, and 62.5% related to product liability disputes.