Beijing: Just days before the Lunar New Year, a tragic explosion and subsequent fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China claimed the lives of eight people and left two others injured. Authorities confirmed the incident on Monday, stating that the blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a village in Donghai County, Jiangsu Province.
According to the local administration, preliminary investigations indicate that a resident improperly set off fireworks near the shop, triggering a fire that quickly escalated into a powerful explosion within moments. The shop reportedly stored a large quantity of highly combustible fireworks, which caused the flames to spread rapidly. Firefighters and emergency response teams arrived promptly and managed to contain the blaze, but significant damage had already been done.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over the Lunar New Year celebrations, turning what is traditionally a time of joy into a period of mourning. An official statement clarified that lighting fireworks in the vicinity of the shop was strictly prohibited. Authorities have attributed the incident to negligence, and a comprehensive investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion.
