The death toll from a fireworks factory explosion Monday in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has climbed to 13, with 148 others injured, said local authorities. The explosion occurred at 9:45 a.m. in a factory owned by the Huali Industry Co., Ltd. in the Wumahe District of Yichun City, Xinhua quoted a spokesman with the city's government as saying. More than 2,000 residents were evacuated after the explosion shattered windows within a kilometer radius and damaged iron fences up to 100 meters away. Witnesses said the shockwave of the explosion was felt up to five kilometers away. The fire was now under control after a helicopter dumped water on the blaze, but some fireworks were still exploding, said the spokesman. More than 1,700 people and 62 fire trucks were trying to completely extinguish the fire and searching for the survivors, he said. Usually 40 to 50 people worked in the factory during weekdays, but exact number of workers present at the time of the explosion was not known. "Fire trucks are hosing water onto nearby storehouses to prevent another explosion," said Xu Zhaojun, Party chief of Yinchun City. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
