The death toll in a fireworks factory explosion in northeast China's Shuangmiaozi Town Tuesday morning rose to 36 as of Tuesday night as an investigation team dispatched by the State Council, the central government, arrived at the scene.

Wang Dexue, head of the team, urged the local government and health department to spare no efforts in rescuing the injured while shutting down other similar factories that do not meet production safety standards.

Another 44 injured people, including 18 seriously wounded, were being treated in local hospitals.

The factory locates in Shuangmiaozi Town of Tieling City in Liaoning Province. The blast at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday flattened the factories' two workshops and tore apart the roof of the four-story office building.

Local government officials said the dead were all workers at the factory, which had been open just three days.

Police have ordered the arrest of Chen Haoyan, the legal representative for the factory. Chen set up the factory in August.

The factory had a business license but no license for production safety, according to the police.

The cause of the blast was under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2003)