The Ministry of Public Security has urged local police to
tighten controls on the production, storage and transport of
fireworks following the deaths of 40 people in a series of
explosions over the past month.
Seventeen people died and 15 were injured when an explosion tore
through a workshop in Chongqing Municipality late last month.
This was the worst of six accidents reported by the ministry on
Thursday.
A second occurred two weeks ago at a fireworks factory in
Liuyang, Hunan Province, in which 10 people were killed and two
were injured.
The other incidents took place in Hebei Province- two cases,
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia, most of them
at fireworks factories.
"These frequent explosions show there are still many problems
with the production, storage, transport and use of fireworks," a
ministry circular issued on Thursday said.
"And their incidence might increase as the New Year and Spring
Festival holidays draw near. Therefore, public security departments
must step up supervision of all phases of the industry to ensure
public safety."
Local police were told to immediately check for breaches of
safety regulations at firework factories. These include having
overcrowded workshops, overloading fireworks with explosives and
mixing highly dangerous procedures in low-level safety areas.
Factories that are found in violation of the rules must cease
operations until the conditions are rectified.
Major violators could have their licenses revoked, the circular
said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2007)