5 killed in blast at illegal China fireworks plant
BEIJING - Police say five people were killed in an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in southern China. Police in Guizhou province are investigating the cause of the blast, which ripped through the factory in the village of Lanjiang on Monday morning. One other person was injured.
China has shut down thousands of illegal fireworks workshops to try to end accidents caused by dangerous production conditions or shoddy safety equipment. However, the industry remains an economic lifeline for many poor rural regions, providing an incentive to avoid regulators.
