Twelve people lost their lives after a firecracker shop exploded and caught fire in Xiangyang, located in China’s Hubei province.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the blast destroyed around 50 square metres of the store. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the explosion.
Incidents involving pyrotechnics are not uncommon in China, particularly during festive periods. This tragedy coincided with the start of the Lunar New Year celebrations, when firecrackers are traditionally used to ward off evil spirits.
Several Chinese cities have imposed bans on fireworks due to safety and air pollution concerns, though such restrictions remain controversial given the cultural importance of the tradition.
In a similar incident last June, a fireworks factory in neighbouring Hunan province exploded, claiming nine lives and injuring 26 others.
