Fireworks explosion kills 19 in southern China

Beijing - A fireworks-triggered explosion killed 19 people and injured at least 50 in southern China, state media reported Saturday. The explosion in Guangdong province's Puning City occurred Friday night when a farmer was setting off fireworks in front of his house to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing local authorities.

The bodies of 13 people were recovered at the site and a further six people died in hospital, the report said.

A villager surnamed Yang said his house, which was 200 meters from the explosion, had cracks in the walls and door.

The provincial government was working to establish the cause of the explosion, state media reported.

Puning City authorities said they would tighten controls on houses found using illegal and large-scale fireworks, according to the semi-official China News Service.

China's 15-day New Year's season, a time when bans on fireworks are lifted, has seen at least 35 other fireworks-related deaths and millions of dollars worth of damage to property. The holiday ends Sunday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/311573,fireworks-explosion-kills-19-in-southern-china.html.