Rescuers have recovered the bodies of five workers and one worker is still missing after a fireworks plant explosion in north China, local work safety authorities said on Tuesday.

The explosion happened at 5:10 PM on Monday in a warehouse belonging to a fireworks factory affiliated to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative of Zaoqiang County in Hebei Province.

Workers were transferring fireworks from one warehouse to another in the factory when the explosion occurred, according to the Hebei Provincial Work Safety Administration.

Two others were slightly injured. The factory was legal, but stopped production last Friday.

According to the State Administration of Work Safety, China has an average of 406 fireworks accidents every year with 445 deaths.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)