Unauthorized fireworks test caused February Yicheng explosion that killed 12

An unauthorized fireworks test outside a shop triggered a chain of explosions and fires that killed 12 people in February in Yicheng, Hubei province, according to an investigation report released Friday.

The report, published on the provincial emergency management department's website, said the fireworks ignited other fireworks displayed outside the shop, setting off successive explosions and fires inside and outside the premises. Fireworks blocked the front entrance, while the rear exit was closed, trapping people inside.

The shop had illegally displayed fireworks outdoors, stocked more than the permitted quantity, and sold products that exceeded regulatory limits, the report said. Local authorities and relevant government departments were found to have failed to adequately fulfill their oversight responsibilities, it added.