Daijiworld Media Network - Beijing

Beijing, May 8: The death toll from the explosion at a fireworks manufacturing plant in central China has risen to 37, according to state media reports on Friday.

Authorities said one person remains missing following the blast that occurred on Monday at a fireworks factory in Changsha city of Hunan province.

According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, local officials are continuing investigations into the cause of the explosion and have ordered a halt to all fireworks manufacturing activities in the surrounding region.

Initial reports had stated that more than 60 people were injured in the incident.

State-run media outlet China Daily identified the factory as being operated by Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Co. in Liuyang, a county-level city administered by Changsha and widely regarded as one of China’s major fireworks production hubs.

Liuyang has a long association with the fireworks industry. According to the Guinness World Records, the earliest accurately documented firework, the Chinese firecracker, was linked to Li Tian, a monk believed to have lived near Liuyang during China’s Tang dynasty between 618 and 907 CE.

The latest incident comes months after China witnessed two separate deadly explosions at fireworks shops during the Lunar New Year celebrations in February.