The work safety authority in central China's Hunan Province yesterday ordered producers of firecrackers and fireworks in Liling City to halt production until work situations improve, Xinhua news agency said.

The decision was on the heels of a string of work safety accidents in the city recently.

Since May, five accidents have happened in the industry, killing 12 people. The number accounted for 67 percent of the province's total death toll from firecracker and fireworks production accidents.

In the latest accident, an explosion rocked a firecracker and fireworks plant in the city on Sunday afternoon, killing six -- the biggest death toll involving firecracker explosions this year in Hunan -- and injuring one.

Liling is a traditional and major fireworks and firecracker production base in China.

Authorities have identified certain issues in the city's fireworks and firecracker industry, such as excessive production and ineffective work safety management.

A task force formed by the provincial authority will start an inspection on the city's fireworks and firecracker plants beginning today.

(Shanghai Daily June 21, 2006)