Six workers have been confirmed dead in Monday's fireworks plant explosion in northern Hebei Province after rescuers recovered the body of the last missing worker on Tuesday.

Another two workers who were injured in the blast have been discharged from hospital, according to the provincial work safety administration.

Families of the victims are negotiating with the fireworks plant on compensation, according to local rescuer headquarters.

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, leaving six workers missing and two other injured.

Workers were transferring fireworks from one warehouse to another in the factory when the explosion occurred, according to the administration.

The factory was legal, but stopped production for regular safety examination 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 8, 2007)