Death toll from the fireworks factory explosion in southern China has risen to 37

Beijing: The death toll from the explosion at a firecracker and fireworks factory in Hunan province, central China, has risen to 37, with one person still missing.

The Chinese news agency Xinhua, quoting the team tasked with handling the incident, reported that the explosion at the Huasheng factory in Liuyang city last Monday also injured 51 people who were taken to hospitals for treatment.

The statement explained that the search and rescue operations at the accident site were nearing completion, noting the activation of the emergency response plan and the deployment of more than 1,500 personnel to participate in the rescue operations and provide first aid to the injured.

He added that authorities conducted DNA testing and matching to identify the victims and missing persons, in addition to verifying the data of factory workers.

Xinhua confirmed that Chinese authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause and circumstances of the explosion.

The agency reported last Tuesday that 26 people were killed and 61 others were injured in the explosion that occurred at a fireworks factory in Liuyang City, Hunan Province, southern China.