Blast at fireworks factory in China kills at least 26, state media says

A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed 26 people and injured 61, according to state media.

The explosion in the city of Liuyang happened on Monday afternoon, local time.

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President Xi Jinping has called for a thorough investigation.

An explosion at a fireworks plant in a central Chinese province has killed at least 26 people and injured 61 others, according to state media.

China's official news agency Xinhua said the blast occurred at a fireworks plant in Changsha city of Hunan province on Monday afternoon, local time.

State media China Daily said the plant was operated by the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company in the Changsha-administered, county-level city of Liuyang, a prominent fireworks powerhouse.

Changsha Mayor Chen Bozhang said search and rescue at the scene has largely been completed, but verification of the casualties and identification of the victims was still underway.

Aerial footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed white smoke still billowing in certain areas of the site, with facilities either collapsed or damaged.

Nearly 500 rescuers were deployed to the scene, and residents in danger zones were evacuated by authorities, citing high risks from two black powder warehouses near the explosion site, the Xinhua report said.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the blast.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged "all-out efforts" to search for people who are still unaccounted-for and save the injured.

He called on authorities to investigate the cause swiftly and pursue serious accountability, the report said.

Mr Xi also ordered effective risk screening and hazard control in key industries and the strengthening of public safety management.

Five rescue teams, together with three rescue robots, were dispatched to the scene, adopting a "human–machine coordinated approach" to conduct grid-style searches, according to Xinhua.

AP/Reuters