‘Gunpowder, sparks’: volunteer hurt at China fireworks blast scene tells of clean-up risk

Exclusive‘Gunpowder, sparks’: volunteer hurt at China fireworks blast scene tells of clean-up riskAs rescuers and volunteers worked to stabilise scene after deadly explosion, witnesses describe overwhelming smell of burnt gunpowder3-MIN READ3-MIN0ListenPublished: 3:12pm, 6 May 2026Updated: 3:58pm, 6 May 2026A rescuer at the site of an explosion that killed 26 people and injured 61 in Hunan’s Liuyang city has described the dangerous and extremely difficult clean-up mission amid gunpowder and sparks after he and others were wounded by secondary blasts on Tuesday morning.An excavator operator surnamed Xiao said he volunteered to aid rescue work at the site of the initial fireworks plant blast which occurred at the Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company on Monday.Xiao described receiving multiple wounds during a further explosion the following day after scattered explosives were ignited by smouldering embers.Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x