The blast occurred around 4:43 p.m. at a facility operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in Liuyang, a major hub for China’s fireworks industry, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Chinese authorities swiftly launched a large-scale rescue operation, deploying around 480 personnel across five teams. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the person in charge of the company has been detained.

Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to locate those still unaccounted for and to ensure the injured receive the best possible care.

The explosion also caused significant damage to surrounding areas, shattering doors and windows in nearby villages. Residents reported that heavy debris, including rocks, was hurled onto roads by the force of the blast, according to the South China Morning Post.

Rescue efforts were further bolstered by a total of 482 firefighters, medical workers, and emergency responders who rushed to the scene.

The incident comes less than three months after a similar explosion at a firecracker shop in Hubei Province, which left 12 people dead, raising renewed concerns over safety standards in the fireworks industry.