An explosion at the Huasheng Fireworks Factory in Liuyang, Hunan has resulted in 37 deaths and 1 person missing. Latest satellite images show that at least 20 production workshops have been flattened by the explosion, raising doubts from the public about the actual casualties exceeding the official numbers.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the explosion occurred at around 4:43 pm on May 4th in the production workshop of the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co., Ltd. in Guandu Town, Liuyang City. As of 12 pm on May 8th, the incident has claimed 37 lives and left 1 person missing. Additionally, 51 people are receiving treatment in hospitals, with 5 in critical condition.
Satellite images comparing before and after the explosion reveal that over 20 production workshops have been completely leveled, with hardly any structures remaining. Reports indicate that windows and doors of houses within a 500-meter radius of the explosion site were shattered. One netizen described the scene as “a complete mess, too gruesome to look at, as if it had been bombed.” This demonstrates the devastating power of the explosion.
In February this year, the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co., Ltd. was fined for violating regulations when industrial potassium chlorate (oxidizer) and benzene salts (reducing agent) were improperly stored and mixed by workers. These two substances are primary components of fireworks, and the mixing of them could easily lead to an explosion with just a slight static electricity spark or friction. However, the local regulatory authorities only fined the company 15,000 yuan (RMB).
Data from Qichacha shows that the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co., Ltd. in Liuyang City was established in 2000 and is located in Binghe Village, Guandu Town, Liuyang City. The legal representative is Hu Zhengping, with a registered capital of 5.4 million yuan, mainly engaged in the production and sale of fireworks and firecrackers.
Following the incident, the responsible individuals of the involved company have been subjected to “control measures” by the authorities.
However, according to financial self-media blogger “Digital Financial Think Tank,” a deeper investigation into the company’s equity structure revealed that while Hu Zhengping is the legal representative, the actual controlling individuals behind the company are well-known entrepreneurs in Hunan, Hu Mingyue and his son Hu Miao. Hu Mingyue, the founder of this fireworks family, previously served as a member of the Hunan Provincial Political Consultative Conference and a standing committee member of the Hunan Federation of Industry and Commerce. In 2003, his son officially took over the business.
Data from Aiqicha indicates that the largest shareholder of Hunan Huasheng Fireworks Co., Ltd. is Hu Miao, holding 99% of the shares. In 2009, Huasheng Fireworks went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada. It is said that the then Secretary of the Liuyang Municipal Party Committee, Yi Jialiang, personally visited Canada to negotiate the listing time with the Toronto Stock Exchange. This illustrates that Huasheng Fireworks was a prominent local enterprise.