Seven people were killed on the spot in the incident which occurred December 9 afternoon at the Meile Fireworks Plant of Hongren Village, Mianyang City.

The explosion-led collapse of nearby houses claimed the lives of three more people and injured seven others. One of the injured died later in a local hospital.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The local authorities have ordered all the 30 fireworks factories to stop production as of December 10 and await overhauling.

(People's Daily 12/11/2000)