The blast killed six people, including four teenagers, and injured eight others. It toppled a three-storey residential building, according to the Nanguo Morning Post.

Police said the youths were going to use the bomb to get revenge on a rival gang and ignited the gunpowder by accident.

Liu Xiangyang, son of the building's owner, was a member of the gang exacting revenge and has been punished in the past for theft and fistfights, police said.

Liu was seeking revenge with the bomb because he had been wounded by the rival gang in a January street fight, police said.

They said Liu and his friends broke into a firecracker factory on February 4 to get 100 kilograms of gunpowder.

The bomb went off on the second floor of that building.

The factory has stopped operating temporarily.

After the accident, officials from the county's government, fire fighters and police rushed to site immediately for rescue, clearance and criminal investigation.

"The injured are receiving medical treatment at a local hospital," said a police with the public security bureau who denied to be identified.

China has strict regulations on the production, transportation, storage and use of explosive materials.

But accidents still happen because many places, especially in south China, make a lot of money by allowing unskilled locals to produce firecrackers.

Officials with the Ministry of Public Security said spot overhauls has been launched nationwide to get rid of the hidden troubles that may lead to fire and explosion during the coming Spring Festival period.

(China Daily February 8, 2002)