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China vows punishment as death toll hits 26 in Hunan fireworks factory blast
Beijing sends Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing to supervise the aftermath of deadly explosion in ‘China’s fireworks capital’
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The death toll from a fireworks factory explosion in Liuyang, Hunan province rose to 26 on Tuesday as Beijing sent Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing to supervise the aftermath of the blast, according to Chinese state media.
Zhang said the State Council, China’s cabinet, would establish an investigation team to look into the cause and help with criminal punishment, official news agency Xinhua reported.
Zhang has pledged to punish firework producers that violate safety regulations, as well as regulators who fine companies instead of supervising them.
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The explosion occurred at around 4.40pm on Monday in a workshop at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in the county-level city famous for its firework production, under the provincial capital Changsha.
The mayor of Changsha, Chen Bozhang, told media on Tuesday afternoon that the death toll had reached 26, while the number of injured remained at 61, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
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