On May 4th, an explosion occurred in the production workshop of the Huasheng Fireworks Factory in Liuyang, Hunan, and a white mushroom cloud rose on the scene. Recently, images inside the factory after the explosion have been exposed, showing that almost all the factory buildings collapsed, with some structures severely damaged by the powerful shock waves generated by the explosion. It is said that there were serious safety hazards in the factory area for a long time, but they were only dealt with through fines. The dereliction of duty by the regulatory authorities has sparked concern online.
According to mainland Chinese media reports on May 8th, the day after the explosion, smoke was still rising from some ruins within the factory area, and the air was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder.
At the factory entrance, the security room was severely damaged by the strong shock waves from the explosion, electric cars parked outside the gate were burned down to just skeletons, and a large number of houses and trees were also destroyed by the fire, with none spared.
Inside the factory area, almost all the workshops collapsed, with burnt vehicle wreckage scattered everywhere and electric poles broken into pieces. On the north side of the factory area was the gunpowder production workshop, and although it was several hundred meters away from the center of the explosion, almost none of the small workshops leading to the gunpowder production workshop remained intact, with the corridor leading to the production workshop severely damaged by the explosion shock waves.
The report stated that there were serious safety hazards within the factory area. Static electricity easily triggers explosions, but the anti-static equipment in front of each pharmaceutical workshop of Huasheng Fireworks Company was filled with dust and had not been used for a long time. In addition, explosive powder barrels were randomly piled up, and powerful oxidizing agents like potassium chlorate and reducing agents like silver powder were mixed together.
Before the explosion, the company had been repeatedly found to have safety hazards. Regulatory records showed that the company had been inspected 24 times from 2022 to the present, with 18 instances of safety hazards identified. The most recent incident was in January of this year when they received a fine of 15,000 RMB for mixing oxidizing agents and reducing agents.
The news has sparked heated discussions online. Netizens questioned, “If so many safety hazards were found, why were they not shut down for rectification?” and “Just fining after inspections, it’s strange if nothing goes wrong.”
Some netizens also expressed that “the core problem lies with the regulatory authorities, but in the overall environment, this is how it is. Our factory exceeds air and water pollution standards. When the environmental protection bureau visits, we stop working in advance.” and “In the video, the two leaders of the law enforcement team were not taken under control. They could still be interviewed calmly. It is clear that they are not only well aware of these safety issues but also turn a blind eye to them.” and “Whether it’s online or offline, making reports and propaganda, the results are all empty formalities. Formalism has permeated every corner.”
Previously reported:
37 Dead in Hunan Fireworks Factory Explosion, Factory Background Revealed