General

Twelve individuals lost their lives on Wednesday due to an explosion at a firecracker store in Hubei province, China, which caused a fire that spread across 50 square metres of the building, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The incident took place at an unnamed shop in Xiangyang, a city in central China. CCTV noted that the reason for the explosion is currently being investigated. Footage verified by Reuters displayed a low-rise structure with thick black smoke pouring out from the damaged storefront. Explosions involving fireworks are common in China, where firecrackers are frequently used during celebrations like the Lunar New Year, which started on Tuesday. Earlier in June, a fireworks factory explosion in nearby Hunan resulted in nine deaths and 26 injuries. While some cities in China have banned fireworks due to safety and air quality concerns, these bans are contentious, as firecrackers are a traditional way to ward off evil spirits during Lunar New Year festivities.