【Epoch Times, November 30, 2025】According to reports from Chinese media, a fireworks and firecracker retail store in Tongxin Road, Beihu District, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, experienced a combustion explosion early this morning on November 30th. The impact of the explosion led to a car being blown away and resulted in three people being injured and sent to the hospital.
Prior to the occurrence of this accident, a real-name report letter issued in the name of the store’s legal representative, Peng Haiyong, and a video in which he was seen drinking “poison” in his car while accusing officials, went viral online. The letter accused local officials of long-term bribery and abuse of power, concluding with what seemed like a “last testament.” Local residents and informants informed Epoch Times that the store owner allegedly felt cornered by government pressure, choosing to detonate fireworks as a form of protest in a tragic act of self-destruction.
The connection between this explosion incident and the circulated “death report letter” has quickly sparked public concern over collusion between officials and businesses, as well as the dark world of irregularities within the industry.
According to the emergency bureau of Beihu District, Chenzhou City, Hunan, the explosion occurred at 7:46 a.m. on November 30th at a fireworks and firecracker retail store on Tongxin Road in Beihu District.
The official report classified the incident as “combustion explosion,” but details regarding the cause of the accident, the condition of the store owner, and the specifics of the three injured individuals were not disclosed.
A video from the scene showed the store’s legal representative, Peng Haiyong, sitting in his car during a live stream, drinking “poison,” claiming that the Deputy Mayor of Chenzhou City, Peng Shengzhi, had driven the common people to desperation. Following his statement, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers were heard continuously, followed by thick smoke and a large burst of flames…
Public reports state that Chenzhou City in Hunan is an important market for the fireworks and firecracker industry, with the exploded store, “Liuyang Yongxin Fireworks Store,” also holding a certain level of reputation within the sector.
A recently circulated real-name report letter on social media showed that the legal representative of “Liuyang Yongxin Fireworks,” named Peng Haiyong, had been coerced by local officials for financial gains, left with no recourse for complaints, ultimately choosing to end his life.
The real-name report letter reads as follows:
“Liuyang Yongxin Fireworks” is located on Luoxian Street, Beihu District, Chenzhou City, and commenced legal operation on September 19, 2023.
1. Qi Zhipeng, the secretary of Luoxian Street Community in Beihu District, as well as Hong Dong, the director of the fireworks and firecracker safety department, have repeatedly demanded items from me through various means, refusing to pay yet seeking money and benefits.
2. He Shenglin, the Chief of the Emergency Management Bureau in Beihu District, Chenzhou City, instructed Cheng Jian, among others, multiple times to demand items from me, receive fireworks without payment, and seek money and benefits…
3. The current director of Luoxian Police Station in Beihu District, along with policeman Wang Peng, under the guise of work, have repeatedly sought goods and money from me, received fireworks gifts without payment.
4. Yang Wei of the Urban Management Enforcement Team in Luoxian Street, Beihu District of Chenzhou City, has repeatedly demanded goods and taken fireworks without payment.
5. The contents reported involve the true situation within the fireworks industry.
6. Deputy Mayor Peng Shengzhi of Chenzhou City used his authority to achieve political achievements, arbitrarily targeted the fireworks industry, acted irresponsibly, and additionally maintained extramarital affairs and illegitimate children.
7. Xie Kun, the director of Chenzhou City Environmental Protection Bureau, as well as other leaders, Zhang Zhen and Tan Yonghua, acted irresponsibly and arbitrarily.
8. When everyone sees the above issues I’ve reported, I may no longer be in this world! This is also my testament! This is the main issue all owners in the fireworks and firecracker industry want to reflect.
Epoch Times reporters interviewed multiple residents. One of the interviewees confirmed that the fireworks and firecracker retail store involved in the accident was named “Liuyang Yongxin Fireworks Store.” He had shared drinks with the store owner, who was a friend of a friend. “He was a good person, so unfortunate.”
A local resident stated that the store owner committed suicide, and the explosion occurred in the morning. It spread throughout the community that the store owner was pressured by authorities, drank two bottles of herbicide, and then ignited the fireworks.
Another local resident mentioned that the store owner ignited the fireworks himself, chose suicide after the real-name report, and the whole store was destroyed in the explosion.
A resident living near the explosion site mentioned hearing two loud bangs in the morning, indicating a significant explosion. “At the time, I vaguely thought it was the rolling gate downstairs being hit by a car. The neighboring houses had their windows shattered, but no one here was injured.” He added that the authorities later closed off the road. “I was on my way to work. I couldn’t ride my electric bike through, stopped by a police car.”
The resident also mentioned visiting the store once to purchase fireworks.
Some netizens expressed that the authorities prevented the store owner from selling fireworks. The store owner had purchased hundreds of thousands of fireworks and was left with no choice but to take his own life, a pitiful situation.
As of the time of Epoch Times’ publication, there have been no further official reports on the progress of the incident.