A spark from substandard electric equipment was the cause of a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Dec. 30, 2003.

He Liguang, head of a team sent by the State Council to investigate the accident and an inspection commissioner from the State Administration of Production Safety, revealed this in an exclusive interview with Xinhua today in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning.

The substandard equipment was installed in a workshop, where explosion-proof electric devices are required. The explosion demolished the whole factory, which had been situated near Tieling City.

Thirty-eight people, all workers at the factory, were confirmed dead in the accident, and 33 were injured, of whom 16 were hospitalized.

Chen Jicheng, the legal representative of the fireworks factory, has been arrested.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2004)