An explosion at a fireworks factory outside Harbin in northeastern China killed 19 people and injured 153, state media reported today.
The Xinhua news agency said five people were still missing after the explosion early yesterday in Yichun city. The blast caused a shockwave felt up to 5km away and prompted the evacuation of more than 2,000 residents.
A downpour had flooded a warehouse at the site and the blast occurred when workers were moving fireworks out of the building, local authorities told China Radio International.
Reuters