Podcast

Fireworks deaths reach 20

Updated: 2010-08-18 13:38

The death toll from Monday's fireworks factory explosion in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province has climbed to 20, with 153 injured and four missing, local authorities said on Tuesday.

The explosion occurred at 9:45 am on Monday morning at a factory owned by the Huali Industry Corporation in Wumahe district of Yichun city.

Preliminary investigations showed the factory continued production after operations had been suspended by the local government in June, Sun Yongbo, vice-governor of Heilongjiang, said on Tuesday.

The factory also operated illegally by manufacturing large fireworks when it only had official permission to produce small firecrackers, Sun said.

Huang Yi, a spokesman for the State Administration of Work Safety, said on Tuesday that many fireworks factories neglect work safety regulations in their quest for profit.

Lessons should be learned from the accident in Yichun, he said. The safety loopholes that exist in the industry need to be exposed to the public to avoid similar incidents in the future.

The explosion killed 10 and injured 35 of the factory's 51 workers, while four went missing.

Another eight were killed and 35 injured when the explosion hit the neighboring Taihua Timber Factory, which is also owned by Huali.

The accident also claimed the lives of two pedestrians, and injured scores more in collateral damage.

The fire was largely brought under control on Monday after a helicopter dumped water on the blaze.

Questions:

1. How many people died?

2. How many people were injured?

3. What time did it happen?

Answer:

1. 20.

2. 153.

3. 9.45am on Monday morning.

去聽寫專區一展身手

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

Fireworks deaths reach 20

About the broadcaster:

Fireworks deaths reach 20

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.