Society

China beefs up fireworks safety ahead of festival

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-27 09:02

BEIJING - China's police authority on Wednesday ordered the nation's police to increase monitoring of fireworks safety following recent fireworks accidents occurring a few days ahead of the Spring Festival.

Flames rise from a fireworks plant after an explosion, which left at least six people dead and 22 others injured in Laogongtian village, Luohe city, Central China's Henan province, Jan 19, 2011. The blast ripped through the Yutian Fireworks Plant about 4:50 pm. [File photo/Xinhua]

The Ministry of Public Security issued a notice ordering police authorities across the nation to eliminate illegal production and storage of fireworks and to prevent illegal fireworks from falling into the hands of criminals.

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The notice asked policemen across the nation to keep a close eye on the setting off of fireworks at times or places that violate regulations.

The Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Feb 3 this year, usually brings a surge in fireworks sales as well as in accidental explosions due to lax management and supervision.

Some 94 work safety accidents happened in China in the first 19 days of January, up 14.6 percent year-on-year. In the latest event, at least 10 people were killed and 21 injured in a fireworks plant explosion in central China's Henan province.