BEIJING — A devastating blast at a pyrotechnics store in China’s Hubei province claimed the lives of 12 people on Wednesday, marking the second deadly incident of its kind within days as the nation observes Lunar New Year festivities.
Fire crews extinguished flames at the fireworks retailer located in Xiangyang, a town in central Hubei province, during Wednesday afternoon hours, the state-run Xinhua News Agency confirmed. Officials are currently examining what triggered the deadly blast, though the report provided no additional specifics.
Pyrotechnic displays play a central role in China’s Lunar New Year traditions, yet they have repeatedly led to tragic incidents.
Just days earlier on Sunday, a separate tragedy at a fireworks retailer in Jiangsu province’s eastern region resulted in eight deaths and left two others wounded. Officials determined that a local resident had ignited fireworks in proximity to the store.
China’s central authorities issued a safety warning on Tuesday, with the Ministry of Emergency Management declaring that “fireworks are still the biggest risks during the Spring Festival period.”
