13 People Killed China Fireworks Plant Explosion

Jinan, China - A huge explosion rocked the tiny town of Jinan at 4:30 p.m. Saturday (1/3/2009) in an abandoned kiln that was being used illegally for producing fireworks by a man in Qianwang Village, Weifang City in Shandong Province, the city government said.

As of Sunday, the death toll had risen to 13 from the deadly explosion. Late Saturday, the the local government said that only three people had been killed in the blast.

Ling Xi'en, the owner of the plant, was quoted by the local government as saying that there were 16 people, including four men and 12 women, working in the plant when the blast happened. Two workers were wounded and are in the hospital, while others sustained little or no injury, witnesses said.

Local police have arrested Ling and are investigating the cause of the explosion.

China invented the fiery displays more than 2,000 years ago, but a lax regulatory regime has failed to catch up to a deadly cottage industry that springs up every year as people try to earn a few extra dollars for the holidays.

Sources:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn

http://www.abc.net.au