A blast at a fireworks factory in China’s Hunan province has killed 21 people and injured 61, prompting a call from President Xi Jinping for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.

The explosion in Liuyang, under the ​administration of Hunan’s capital city of Changsha and a hub for fireworks manufacturing, occurred on Monday at around ​4:40 p.m. (0840 GMT), according to reports by CCTV and Xinhua.

Social media footage showed massive ⁠plumes of smoke billowing up into clear blue skies against a backdrop of lush, green mountains. ​Reuters verified the location shown in the footage, which was posted on social media on May 4, ​as Changsha.

Firefighters work to distinguish a fire following a blast at a fireworks manufacturing factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, China, on May 5, 2026.…