Overview
- At the Huasheng plant in Liuyang, which exploded Monday afternoon, state briefings now report 26 dead and 61 injured after earlier tallies put the toll at 21.
- Nearly 500 responders used three rescue robots and constant water spraying under a three‑kilometre control zone to reduce the danger from two on‑site black‑powder warehouses.
- Police detained the person in charge of the company as investigators shift from urgent search work to cause finding and officials say rescue operations are largely complete.
- Residents near the site were evacuated and reported shattered windows and debris in village streets as crews kept dampening the area to prevent further blasts.
- Liuyang is China’s fireworks hub, supplying most domestic sales and about 70% of exports, and the disaster has prompted nationwide risk screening and tighter hazard controls.